82 Large Packages Of Dried Marijuana Brought By Couriers To West Sumatra Successfully Foiled By Police

Officers arrested TH along with evidence in the form of 82 large packages of marijuana in West Pasaman on Saturday (1/3). ANTARA/HO-PoldaWest Sumatra

The ranks of the Directorate of Drug Investigation of the West Sumatra Police thwarted efforts to smuggle 82 large packages of dried marijuana into the West Sumatra region.

"This large package of marijuana drugs was brought by couriers to be circulated in the West Sumatra region," said Director of Drug Investigation at the West Sumatra Police, Kombes Nico A Setiawan in a press statement in Padang, Antara, Sunday, March 2.

The marijuana type drug was brought by a courier with the initials TH (42), a man from Batang Toru, South Tapanuli, North Sumatra. The perpetrator was hidden in four plastic sacks, then transported by land by one car.

"We managed to intercept 82 packages of marijuana in the middle of the road, so we didn't have time to circulate in the West Sumatra community," he said.

Nico explained that the perpetrator's car was intercepted by police personnel while crossing Jalan Raya Simpang IV-Manggopoh, Kinali District, West Pasaman Regency, West Sumatra, on Saturday (1/3).

According to information, the perpetrator of tens of kilograms of marijuana was brought from a neighboring province, namely Panyabungan, North Sumatra.

Nico revealed that the arrest of TH began when the West Sumatra Police's Narcotics Team of the Narcotics Directorate received information about the distribution of marijuana-type narcotics from the North Sumatra to West Sumatra.

Based on this information, the Director of Drug Investigation of the West Sumatra Police then ordered the team to monitor in the West Pasaman area which is the entrance to West Sumatra from the North Sumatra area.

From the results of the monitoring, the team finally found a black bus car with the police number BB 1797 HC as the target of the suspected operation.

The police team then followed until finally an interception was carried out on Jalan Raya Simpang IV -Manggopoh Padang Kadok, West Pasaman.

Nico explained that the arrest of the perpetrator did not go smoothly, because TH resisted and tried to escape from the officers' interceptions.

"The perpetrator fled, so the team took measured action by giving warning shots into the air," he explained.

He said the perpetrator managed to escape into the oil palm plantation so that no trace of it was known by the officers who continued to hunt.

Fortunately, the police were assisted by the surrounding community, the Kinali Police, and members of the Intel Kodim 0305 Pasaman to find the perpetrators.

"We were finally able to arrest the perpetrators thanks to cooperation with the community and members of the TNI, after being arrested the person concerned was immediately taken to Padang along with evidence," he said.

He explained that the case was still in the examination and development stage of his party, because there was still one other person who was wanted.

Meanwhile, TH has now been named a suspect under Article 114 paragraph (2), 111 paragraph (2) of Law number 35 of 2009 concerning Narcotics.

Based on a release conducted by the West Sumatra Police, it is known that the disclosure of marijuana cases this time is the third time in the last two weeks.

Previously on February 16, 2025, joint personnel from Bareskrim Polri together with the West Sumatra Regional Police (Polda) also arrested two drug couriers carrying 74 kilograms of dried marijuana.

Then on February 25, 2025, the police again arrested two perpetrators who were caught carrying dried marijuana ready for distribution weighing 15 kilograms.