Crack Down on Cross-Border Drug Syndicate, Riau Police Seizes 27 Kilograms of Methamphetamine     

Riau Police Chief Brig. Gen. Hengki Haryadi

JAKARTA - The Satresnarkoba team of the Kepulauan Meranti Police with the Riau Police managed to thwart an international drug smuggling attempt suspected of originating from Malaysia through the Akar Strait waters, Kepulauan Meranti Regency.

In the disclosure, the police secured two suspects with initials K and S who were suspected of playing a role as international sea couriers.

From the hands of the perpetrators, officers seized 27 kilograms of methamphetamine and hundreds of vape cartridges suspected of containing etomidate.

Head of the Riau Police, Brigjen Hengki Haryadi, emphasized that narcotics were extraordinary crimes that posed a serious threat to the future of the nation's generation, especially in the Riau province which has strategic water areas and borders directly with international routes.

"Almost all of these drug case disclosures come from neighboring countries. This shows that the Riau waters are still a very vulnerable area used by international networks," said Hengki at a press conference at the Meranti Police, Saturday, May 2.

He emphasized that the Riau Police implemented a zero tolerance policy against all forms of narcotics offenses, including internal members who were involved.

"Zero tolerance, there is no tolerance for drugs. Both perpetrators from outside and if there are members involved, they will all be dealt with firmly," he said.

According to Hengki, the disclosure is proof of the seriousness of the Riau Police in strengthening surveillance of coastal areas and sea routes that have long been used by transnational drug syndicates.

The Head of the Meranti Islands Police, AKBP Aldi Alfa Faroqi, explained that the disclosure of the case began with community information regarding the smuggling of narcotics from Malaysia to Indonesian territory through the waters of the Akar Strait, Tasik Putri Puyuh District.

Following up on this information, the Meranti Islands Police Narcotics Unit conducted a closed investigation for approximately two weeks with the Customs and Excise Service.

"We carried out a pursuit using a pompong boat so that the perpetrators would not be suspicious. When they were about to be stopped, the perpetrators tried to escape so that firm and measured actions were taken," said Aldi.

During the arrest process, the Narcotics Police personnel were said to have swam towards the perpetrator's speedboat after the boat was successfully stopped in the middle of the waters.

One of the suspects with the initials K was shot in the leg after trying to escape and ignoring the warning shots of the officers.

From the results of the search of the speedboat, the police found two bags containing 27 large packages of methamphetamine with details of 17 packages branded Chinese Pin Wei and 10 packages branded Gold Leaf with a total weight of around 27 kilograms.

In addition, 260 vape cartridges were also secured which were suspected to contain etomidate.

The Police Chief said that the amount of evidence was estimated to be able to damage millions of people if it was successfully distributed.

"This evidence is estimated to save more than 6.6 million lives from the threat of narcotics," he said.

Meanwhile, the Head of the Riau Police Narcotics Directorate, Kombes Putu Yudha Prawira, said that the East Coast of Sumatra, including Riau, is still one of the main routes for international narcotics to enter Indonesia.

Therefore, according to him, it is necessary to carry out integrated supervision across agencies and across regions to break the chain of international drug smuggling through the sea route.

Apart from law enforcement, the Riau Police also continue to strengthen preventive measures through collaborative approaches with local governments, community leaders, religious leaders, and youth groups by encouraging the establishment of Anti-Drug Resistant Villages and Shining Villages in various areas prone to the circulation of narcotics.

"This program is expected to become a social fortress in the community so that efforts to eradicate drugs do not only stop at arresting perpetrators, but also are able to build environmental resilience and collective awareness of the community about the dangers of narcotics," explained Kombes Putu.

Currently, the two suspects have been secured at the Kepulauan Meranti Police to undergo further legal proceedings.

The police are also still continuing to develop to uncover a larger network, including the alleged involvement of a transnational syndicate in the case.