Soetta Customs Thwarts Smuggling Of 2,208 Grams Of Cocaine From America-Colombia

Head of Customs and Excise Soetta Gatot Sugeng Wibowo showed a number of evidences from the disclosure of narcotics smuggling cases from America-Colombia (Jehan/VOI)

TANGERANG - The Main Service Office of Customs and Excise Type Customs (KPUBC TMP) C Soekarno-Hatta (Soetta), Tangerang, thwarted the crime of smuggling 3,106 grams of marijuana and 2,805 grams of liquid cocaine from the American-Colombian state.

Head of Customs and Excise Soetta Gatot Sugeng Wibowo said that this narcotics smuggling crime was the result of the joint team's operation during the period 2023-2024.

"The action, which started from the end of 2023 to the beginning of 2024, managed to secure two Indonesian citizens and one Colombian foreigner with evidence of 3,106 grams of marijuana and 2,805 grams of liquid cocaine, each of which was dealt with separately," said Wibowo, Tuesday, February 27.

For the disclosure of the narcotics smuggling, his party was able to secure as many as three suspects. Two of them are Indonesian citizens (WNI) with the initials MG (37), HG (44) and one other foreign national (WNA) from Colombia with the initials MI (45).

He explained that the first action was taken on December 27, 2023, against a package sent from California-United States which was known to have a final destination to the UK. However, the shipment was rejected so that it was sent back or RTO (Return to Origin).

"From the suspicion, officers emerged after confirmation of shipments to recipients of goods who claimed to have never made shipments," he said.

On this suspicion, customs officers then carried out an in-depth examination of the delivery package which was notified as a 'Play-Doh Modeling Compound Pack' aimed at the recipient with the initials PMT Company in the Cengkareng area, West Jakarta.

Furthermore, officers found three packages of dry leaves weighing 570 grams, 579 grams, and 520 grams each with a total of 1,549-gram. When the Soekarno-Hatta Customs laboratory was tested, the results showed positive in the form of Narcotics Category I from Marijuana type.

"With these findings, the Soekarno-Hatta Customs Joint Team, Soekarno Hatta Airport Police together with the DJBC Narcotics Interdiction Directorate immediately carried out developments," he explained.

Gatot also revealed that for the second action carried out three days later from the first action, officers found cases with similar modes and anomalies, but with a notification of the contents of the package in the form of Black Red Portable Bluetooth Speaker'.

"Officers found the same sender from America making re-delivery but with a different phishing mode with the initials of the LUAS company having its address at Pantai Indah Kapuk," he said.

Currently, the evidence from the two shipments has been handed over to the Soekarno-Hatta Airport police for further development related to phishing modes that misuse account addresses in Indonesia as resubmittance addresses or RTOs (Return to Origin).

Furthermore, he said, for the third action, it was carried out on January 11, 2024, on goods sent with the recipient with the initials KP located in Central Jakarta with a notification of GEM 5000 PAK MACHINES from Colombia, South America. Officers who were suspicious of the package then carried out an in-depth examination.

During an in-depth examination, officers found a hidden pungent fluid (False Concealment) in a GEM 5000 Premiere Health Device cavity (a tool for gas analysis in the blood).

The liquid with a net weight of 2,805 Grams was then tested by the Customs Laboratory and found positive results of Narcotics Category I type Cocaine.

Based on these findings, further investigation was carried out. From the results of the development, MG (WNI) was successfully secured who acted as the recipient of the goods, then MI (Cibal Foreigner) and his partner HG (WNI) were also secured in separate places which played a role in processing the liquid into powder.

Then, three suspects and liquid cocaine evidence with a net weight of 2,805 grams were secured to the Soekarno-Hatta Airport Police for further development.

"The results of this action are estimated to be able to save the nation's generation as many as 15,000 people with savings in rehabilitation costs of Rp. 23 billion," he said.

For his actions, the suspect was charged with Law Number 35 of 2009 concerning Narcotics with a maximum threat of the death penalty or life imprisonment.

"We also urge the public to always maintain data security and accounts so as not to be misused by irresponsible persons," said Gatot.