Customs and BNN Foil 3.37 Tons of Cannabis Originating from Thailand in Tanjung Priok

JAKARTA - The Directorate General of Customs and Excise (DJBC) of the Ministry of Finance together with the National Narcotics Agency (BNN) RI has succeeded in thwarting an attempt to smuggle around 3,371.4 kilograms or 3.37 tons of cannabinoid marijuana flowers/buds from Thailand which entered through the Tanjung Priok International Port.

In the action, the perpetrators used the false concealment or disguise modus by hiding the Class I narcotics in the travel luggage and the latex mattress roll to avoid the officers' inspection.

The success of the disclosure of this case is the result of a joint operation involving the Narcotics Interdiction Directorate of Customs, Tanjung Priok Customs, East Java Customs I Regional Office, West Java Customs Regional Office, Central Java Customs Regional Office, Jakarta Customs Regional Office, Gresik Customs, Purwakarta Customs, and Cikarang Customs with BNN RI.

Director General of Customs and Excise, Lieutenant General TNI (Ret.) Djaka Budhi Utama, said that the narcotics smuggling syndicate continued to develop various modes to disguise illegal goods.

According to him, strengthening supervision, utilization of technology, risk analysis, and synergy between institutions are important factors in preventing the entry of narcotics into Indonesia.

"Narcotics smugglers continue to look for various modes to avoid the supervision of officers. Through the use of technology, risk analysis, and synergy with law enforcement, Customs together with the BNN RI managed to thwart the effort to circulate large amounts of narcotics before reaching the community," Djaka said in his statement, Thursday, July 2.

This case began with the results of the analysis of the joint team of Customs and BNN RI on Monday, June 29 which identified a container from Thailand containing a pile of suitcases that had arrived at Tanjung Priok Port.

Furthermore, the joint team conducted surveillance on the process of issuing goods from the temporary storage place until their demolition in the destination warehouse.

During the examination, officers found aluminum foil and plastic packages hidden inside some of the suitcases.

Based on these findings, the team conducted in-depth information and further analysis of the import pattern, and as a result, another shipment with similar characteristics was found to be reported as latex mattresses and also originated from Thailand.

Following up on this information, the joint team carried out further surveillance and controlled delivery of the distribution of goods, and monitoring results showed that the suitcase and latex mattress would be sent to Gresik and its surrounding areas.

Meanwhile, on Wednesday, July 1, officers stopped four transporting trucks for further inspection, consisting of three wingbox trucks in Gresik and one wingbox truck in Purwakarta.

After all the cargo was unloaded and inspected, the team found marijuana with a total gross weight of 3,371.4 kilograms or about 3.37 tons.

The evidence found in the suitcase weighed about 1,605 kilograms, while that hidden in the latex mattress reached about 1,766.4 kilograms.

Currently, all evidence and related parties have been secured for the purpose of further investigation to uncover the international narcotics smuggling network behind the import activities.

Through the disclosure of this case, the Customs and BNN estimate that they have saved around 10,114,200 people from potential drug abuse.

In addition, it is also estimated that this action will be able to reduce the potential cost burden of rehabilitation that must be borne by the state to around IDR 4.585 trillion.

Djaka emphasized that the Customs Service would continue to increase supervision of all entry points for goods from abroad to prevent smuggling of narcotics and other illegal goods.

"Every attempt to smuggle narcotics that we have successfully stopped means that there are people who are protected. Customs will continue to work with all stakeholders so that Indonesia is increasingly protected from the threat of illicit drug circulation," he said.