BNN Disrupts the Smuggling of 7.8 Kg of Hashis in Bali, Two Russian Nationals Arrested

JAKARTA - A joint team from the National Narcotics Agency (BNN), the Ministry of Immigration and Corrections, the Directorate General of Customs and Excise, and the Bali Police managed to thwart an international narcotics smuggling attempt that is suspected to involve two foreign nationals (WNA) from Russia in Bangli Regency, Bali.

In the operation carried out on Friday, June 5, officers secured two Russian nationals with the initials KK (52) and SK (40), and seized 7.8 kilograms of hashish-type narcotics suspected to have come from Thailand.

Head of the Indonesian National Narcotics Agency (BNN) Inspector General Pol. Suyudi Ario Seto said the disclosure of the case began with information received from the Soekarno-Hatta Customs and Excise regarding a suitcase containing narcotics carried by a passenger from Russia and allegedly to be sent to Bali.

"This disclosure started from information from the Soekarno-Hatta Customs and Excise regarding the existence of a suitcase containing marijuana from Thailand that was carried by a passenger with the initials KK and was suspected of being taken to Bali," said Suyudi in his statement, Sunday, June 7.

Based on the results of monitoring, KK was known to arrive at Soekarno-Hatta International Airport before continuing his land journey to Ketapang Port, East Java.

The suspect then crossed to Bali through the Gilimanuk Port in the early hours of the morning. Upon arrival in Bali at around 03.00 WITA, he was picked up by another suspect with the initials SK who was also a Russian citizen.

The officers who had carried out surveillance then followed the movements of the two until they entered the Bangli Regency area.

When the action was about to be taken, SK tried to escape using a four-wheeled vehicle. In his escape, he was said to drive the vehicle at high speed and indiscriminately so that he accidentally hit a number of residents around the location.

After the pursuit, the officers finally managed to stop the vehicle and arrested SK in Kayang Village, Kayubihi Village, Bangli District.

From the results of the action, officers found hashish or solid processed cannabis plants with a gross weight of 7.8 kilograms.

Apart from narcotics, the police also seized a number of other evidence in the form of passports, mobile phones, and a four-wheeled vehicle used by the suspects.

"We have secured evidence of narcotics in the form of hashish with a gross weight of 7.8 kilograms, as well as non-narcotic evidence in the form of passports, mobile phones, and one four-wheeled vehicle," said Suyudi.

Currently, BNN is still developing to uncover the possibility of the involvement of other parties in the network.

BNN also coordinated with the Customs and Excise, Bali Police, and the Directorate General of Immigration to trace the possibility of other network members, especially Russian citizens who are suspected of still being in Bali.

Investigators are investigating the entry route of narcotics, distribution patterns, and the relationship between the two suspects with the wider international narcotics distribution network.