Two Women Visitors to Salemba Detention Center Arrested while Smuggling Drugs, Here's the Method

JAKARTA - Officers at the Jakarta Central Class I State Prison (Rutan) or Salemba Prison thwarted two drug smuggling attempts that occurred at different times in a day.

The first smuggling was carried out by a female visitor with the initials NA (22). He tried to smuggle prohibited goods suspected of being a liquid narcotic Etomidate.

"The liquid is disguised in a 60 ml bottle of OBH Combi cough medicine and approximately 30 ml of the liquid," said Head of the Jakarta Central Class I Prison, Wahyu Trah Utomo when confirmed, Tuesday, June 16, 2026.

The incident occurred during a morning session visit on Monday, June 15 at around 10.50 WIB. Suspicions began when two baggage inspectors, Achmad Istiyanto and Dwi Ismiyati, found that the contents of the bottle were only half filled and emitted an unnatural pungent odor.

The officers then confiscated the liquid for further examination.

Then the second incident was successfully thwarted during the afternoon visit session at 14.40 WIB. Female officers, Dwi Handayani and Putri Wulan Suci, secured a female visitor with the initials MU (39).

Through a very strict body search, officers managed to find a package suspected of being a type of methamphetamine with a gross weight of approximately 8 grams.

"The modus operandi is that the perpetrator hides the prohibited goods in the black hair curlers he wears," he said.

For the failure of narcotics smuggling, Karutan also gave appreciation to all officers who had carried out their duties with integrity, professionalism, and high alertness.

"I appreciate the performance of all officers who remain consistent in carrying out their duties according to standard operating procedures and are not negligent of any potential security disturbances," he said.

This success, continued Wahyu, is a tangible proof of the commitment of his staff in keeping the detention center safe, clean from drugs, and free from the circulation of prohibited goods.

Furthermore, Karutan emphasized that his party would not tolerate any form of smuggling drugs or other prohibited goods into the prison.

Each violation will be processed in accordance with applicable laws and regulations and coordinated directly by the Directorate General of Tourism and Creative Economy of DKI Jakarta and related law enforcement officers.

"We will continue to strengthen supervision, increase the vigilance of officers, and take firm action against any attempt to smuggle drugs. This is in line with the commitment of the Minister of Immigration and Corrections, Agus Andrianto, through the Directorate General of Corrections in realizing Zero Halinar, namely free from cellphones, illegal levies, and drugs in the correctional environment," he said.