Smuggling 5 Kg Of Malaysian Methamphetamine Into Riau Bengkalis Waters Using Speedboat, 4 Suspects Arrested By Police

4 suspects and 5 kg of methamphetamine evidence were secured by the Bengkalis Police. (ANTARA/Alfisnardo)

RIAU - Officials thwarted the smuggling of 5 kilograms of crystal methamphetamine (kg) from Malaysia in the waters of the Bengkalis Strait, Riau Province. Four suspects suspected of being international network syndicates were arrested.

Bengkalis Police Chief AKBP Setyo Bimo Anggoro revealed that the four suspects were arrested in two different places. The methamphetamine was brought from Malaysia through Bengkalis waters using a fast boat.

"The evidence of 5 kg of crystal methamphetamine that was secured was the latest or best type of drug packaged in five plastic packages," said the Police Chief during a press conference at the Bengkalis Police Headquarters, Riau, Wednesday, December 6, which was confiscated by Antara.

According to Bimo, the disclosure of the smuggling of illicit goods began with information from the public on November 9, 2023, then the team conducted an investigation and mapping around the Bengkalis Strait.

On Saturday 11 November, at around 18.00 WIB, the team was divided into three parts to guard a number of critical locations.

Team 1 is on the coast of Bengkalis Island, team 2 in the waters of the Bengkalis Strait with Customs and Polair Bengkalis Police, as well as team 3 on the coast of the island of Sumatra, precisely in Sungai Pakning, Bukit Batu District, Bengkalis Regency.

"At around 20.00 WIB, the 2nd team reported seeing a speedboat heading to the coast of the island of Sumatra. Team 3 was guarding around the waterfront of the Pakning River, and at that time arrested two suspects, with the initials A. However, another suspect, namely S, could escape to the Bengkalis Strait," said the Police Chief.

Through pursuit, the marine team managed to capture a speedboat by the sea of Bengkalis waters, next to Roro Air Putih, and secured two suspects. The results of the interrogation of the three suspects revealed that they received orders from someone named IF to pick up methamphetamine from Malaysia. The methamphetamine will be delivered to Pekanbaru with a salary of Rp. 10 million each.

On Sunday 12 November, at around 14.00 WIB, the team arrested the fourth suspect, with the initials RHDS, on the edge of Jalan Kartama, Pekanbaru City when he was about to take 5 packages of crystal methamphetamine. This suspect admitted that he was ordered by someone named FI to pick up the narcotics with a promise of Rp7 million in wages, after the work was completed.

"The four suspects and evidence were successfully secured and taken to the Bengkalis Police Headquarters for further investigation. The suspect is subject to Article 114 paragraph (2), Article 112 and Article 132 of the Criminal Code," said the Police Chief.