The Indonesian Navy Failed To Smuggle 84.75 Kg Of Cocaine On 2 Outermost Islands Of The Republic Of Indonesia, The Mode Is Like A Pastel System On The Ground

The Indonesian Navy showed packages of cocaine and methamphetamine that were secured from dealers during a press conference at the Indonesian Koarmada Command Headquarters, Jakarta, Thursday (19/9/2024). ANTARA/Genta Tenri Mawangi.

JAKARTA - The Indonesian Navy (AL) thwarted the smuggling of tens of kilograms (kg) of cocaine in the two outer waters of the Republic of Indonesia in September 2024.

The Commander of the Fleet Command (Pangkoarmada) of the Republic of Indonesia, Vice Admiral TNI Denih Hendrata, explained that the two different waters in question are around Berhala Island, North Sumatra (North Sumatra), and around the waters of Sebatik Island, Nunukan, North Kalimantan (Kaltara).

"Based on the patrol results, we found that this illicit item was 84.75 kilograms (cocain), and there were 74 packs of everything. Each pack was 1.05 kilograms to 1.5 kilograms," he said during a press conference on the disclosure of the case at the Koarmada RI Command Headquarters, Jakarta, Thursday, September 19, which was confiscated by Antara.

Pangkoarmada I Rear Admiral TNI Yoos Suryono Hadi explained that the mode of smuggling cocaine in the sea is similar to the circulation of a patch system of drugs for cases on land. The courier who brought cocaine via sea route dropped the package in the waters. Generally, the courier will provide the coordinates of the cocaine package to the recipient.

However, for the case in the waters near the Malacca Strait, the Navy patrol boat KAL Pandang I-172 thwarted the cocaine smuggling attempt earlier this week on September 16.

"We received information from elements of BIN (State Intelligence Agency), BAIS (TNI Strategic Intelligence Agency), from the community. We carried out interoperability, good cooperation between agencies. We mobilized one VIEW KAL to patrol and then found the item," said Laksda Yoos.

He said the cocaine package was deliberately unloaded from the ship and dumped at sea. Apart from that, Yoos said the Indonesian Navy and other relevant agencies had gathered information and promised to immediately arrest the cocaine smuggler.

Meanwhile, in the waters around Sebatik Island, Indonesian Navy soldiers from Lanal Nunukan managed to catch a courier and confiscate the methamphetamine package he was about to carry by sea. The waters around Sebatik Island are Indonesia's outermost waters bordering Malaysia.

Pangkoarmada II Rear Admiral TNI Ariantyo Condrowibowo, who also spoke during a press conference today in Jakarta, explained that the total amount of methamphetamine seized was two large packs weighing 1.65 kilograms. During the arrest, Indonesian Navy soldiers arrested a courier with the initials T who when he was about to be questioned had tried to escape and threw himself into the sea.

He explained that the arrests were armed with intelligence data between agencies, namely from the Border Security Task Force, including the Navy, BAIS, BNN, Marine Task Force, Lanal Nunukan, and the Frog Troop Command Task Force (Kopaska).

"From the intelligence data, we carried out preventive actions, namely inspection of passengers going to Tarakan from Nunukan and Sebatik, then from Sebatik, Nunukan to Tarakan," said Pangkoarmada II during a press conference, Thursday, explaining the series of events of arresting methamphetamine couriers in Sebatik on September 17, 2024.

He also hopes that close cooperation between other law enforcers in breaking the chain of drug distribution, especially in border areas and outermost areas, can continue to be developed.

"In our place, especially in Sebatik, there are many rat roads, many rivers, and many people also use speed boats (fast boats), so it is not easy if there is no valid intelligence data for then we carry out arrests. Alhamdulillah, yesterday the data was valid," said Pangkoarmada II.