Customs And Excise Thwarts Drug Smuggling Fishermen In Selanggan

Batam Customs and Excise, Riau Islands thwarted a duua of fishermen smuggling drugs in the groin from Malaysia to Batam, Monday (21/10/2024). (ANTARA/HO-Bea Excise Batam)

The Batam Customs Public Service Office (KPU), Riau Islands, thwarted an attempt to smuggle methamphetamine-type drugs through the Batam Center and Harbor Bay International Arrival Ferry Terminal by two fishermen with the mode of hiding in the groin.

Head of the Corruption Eradication and Investigation Division of the Batam Customs and Excise KPU, Muntadi, said that this disclosure occurred at two different times and locations, but the origin of drugs together from Malaysia, entered Indonesia by sea, namely through the Batam Center International Port and Harbor Bay.

"The first case was revealed starting from the officer's suspicion of a passenger on the MV Oceana 7 ship, a man with the initials CS admitted to being a fisherman in Tanjung Balai Karimun," Muntadi said as quoted by ANTARA, Monday, October 21.

He explained that CS arrived at the Batam Center International Port on October 9, 2024, from the Seabone, Malaysia.

CS officers confessed to Malaysia to meet their relatives to attend a celebration.

"From the perpetrator's examination, there are indications that there is something odd hidden in his trouser pocket and groin," he said.

The officer then directed the perpetrator to the examination room. From the results of the examination found in his trouser pocket, a black plastic pack containing white crystalline powder was found which was suspected to be methamphetamine weighing 45 grams, 78 happy five pills, and a set of methamphetamine suction devices.

"What is even more surprising is that in the ferocity area, two black plastic packs were found which allegedly contained white crystalline powders that were thought to be methamphetamine weighing 115 grams and 90 grams, respectively," he said.

Muntadi said the results of laboratory tests contained class 1 narcotic compounds of the type methamphetamine and class IV narcotics containing nimetzepam (happy five).

The perpetrator admitted to leaving for the Seabones with his friend on October 4, 2024 at 16.30 WIB through the Batam Center Port.

"CS is a former recidivist at Tanjungpinang Prison," he said.

In addition, he said, CS admitted that this was the first time he brought the goods with a promised wage of Rp. 8 million. The goods were received by the perpetrators in Malaysia, the Skudai area, the Seabone of Malaysian citizens with Indonesian ethnicity.

"The initials of the baran giver are not yet known. While in Malaysia, the perpetrator admitted to taking drugs," he said.

Then, the second case occurred on October 19, 2024, at the Ferry International Harbor Bay Arrival Terminal, the male perpetrator with the initials R, who arrived from Tulang Laut, Malaysia.

This disclosure, he said, also began with the suspicion of port officers against R, who had just taken down the MV ship. Marine Hawk 3.

"R also claims to be a fisherman in Batam," he said.

Perpetrator R admitted that he went to Malaysia to visit his sick brother. From this suspicion, the officer conducted a body examination, indicated that there was something odd in the form of thickening in his groin. It was found that three black plastic packs were suspected to contain white crystalline powder suspected of being methamphetamine.

"A total of 435 grams weighing 190, 215 and 30 grams each, as well as two methamphetamine items," he said.

From the results of laboratory tests, he continued, drugs were known to be class I of the methamphetamine type.

Based on the results of the officer's examination, perpetrator R left for Malaysia on October 16, 2024 and stayed in the Johor area. The perpetrator was ordered by someone with a promise of tens of millions of wages, giving the item along with the methamphetamine device.

Subsequently, the perpetrator wrapped the item into a sanitary diapers to be worn on the way to Batam.

From the disclosure, the two perpetrators were arrested and handed over to the Directorate of Narcotics of the Riau Islands Police for further legal processing.

"This action is a commitment of Batam Customs and Excise with the Riau Islands Regional Police to eradicate drug smuggling, especially through Riau Islands," said Muntadi.

"We constantly urge the public to participate actively in eradicating narcotics," he continued.