Riau Police Searches Network Of Two Couriers Smuggling 13 Kilograms Of Crystal Methamphetamine

Evidence of methamphetamine that was being smuggled at Sultan Syarif Kasim II Airport in Pekanbaru. (ANTARA/HO-Riau Police)

The Directorate of Narcotics Investigation and Illegal Drugs of the Riau Regional Police traced a network of two couriers who wanted to smuggle 13 kilograms of crystal methamphetamine, including through Sultan Syarif Kasim II Airport Pekanbaru.

Director of the Narcotics Directorate of the Riau Police, Kombes Pol Putu Yudha Prawira, said that initially the Pekanbaru SSK II Aviation Security (Avsec) officer thwarted the smuggling of 6 kg of crystal methamphetamine to Kendari, Southeast Sulawesi. After being developed, 7 kg was found again at the suspect's rented house on the same day last Friday (15/8).

"This case is still being developed, including tracing the circulation network and money laundering crimes," he said in Pekanbaru, Monday.

The authorities secured two couriers with the initials A (40) and AP (28). When they were arrested they also brought their respective wives, DS and EF, but the results of the examination, the wives admitted that they did not know about the illegal activity.

This disclosure began with the suspicion of the Avsec officer at SSK II Airport against several suitcases that were brought by prospective passengers. After being examined, the suitcase turned out to contain suspicious packages suspected of being narcotics.

This information was then forwarded to the Riau Police Narcotics Sub-Directorate II team and immediately moved to the airport. The police secured the suspect along with five suitcases each containing four to six packs of crystal methamphetamine.

From the results of the interrogation, the two couriers admitted that they still kept other narcotics in their rented house on Jalan Keliling, Kulim District, Pekanbaru City. From the results of the search, officers again found 29 packs of methamphetamine weighing seven kilograms in a suitcase and a unit of digital scales.

"The total amount of methamphetamine that was confiscated from the suspects amounted to 13 kilograms," said Kombes Putu.

The results of further investigation of the two suspects admitted to receiving the methamphetamine from a messenger with the initials M at a hotel in Pekanbaru.

At first, they obtained 15 large packs of methamphetamine which were then divided into 61 packages, Putu explained.