Small Harbor On The Pekanbaru River Becomes The Entrance For Tens Of Thousands Of Ecstasy Pills From Malaysia

JAKARTA - Tens of thousands of ecstasy pills produced by Malaysia are suspected of being able to enter Riau through a small port on the Pekanbaru river route.

"There are many river routes. So, geographically, the many river routes are used by the perpetrators to smuggle narcotics," said West Jakarta Metro Police Chief, Kombes Pol Pasma Royce during a press conference at the West Jakarta Metro Police Headquarters, Monday 15 August.

However, when asked in more detail about the location of the port point which is the entrance for the illicit goods, Pasma did not explain in detail.

Pasma explained that the ecstasy entered the Riau area in early August 2022. The information was obtained by the police based on the arrest of an ecstasy user in the Jakarta area.

Tens of thousands of ecstasy pills are planned to be brought from Riau to Jakarta for distribution. The two suspects assigned to deliver the ecstasy are M (31) and S (40).

Based on this information, the police immediately arrested the two suspects. M was arrested at his residence in Sukajadi District, Pekanbaru, Riau on Tuesday (2/8).

"We found 30,500 pink ecstasy pills from M's house," said Pasma as quoted by Antara.

The next day, the police arrested suspect S in Bengkalis Regency, Riau. From the hands of S, the police confiscated 70,855 pills of ecstasy.

The total number of ecstasy seized from the two suspects was 101,355 pills packed in 22 plastic bags.

"We have also secured methamphetamine ready for distribution in a plastic bag that weighs approximately 72.86 grams, there is also one plastic type of marijuana weighing 46.35 grams," he explained.

The two suspects were taken to the West Jakarta Police for further questioning. Based on the results of the examination, the two suspects admitted to having worked as ecstasy couriers five times.

Per bag, the two suspects were given a salary of Rp. 3,000,000. Until now, investigators are still looking for the main actor who sent the illicit goods from Malaysia.

Investigators are also still investigating to which areas the ecstasy will be distributed.

"It is possible to distribute it to nightclubs. We are still investigating," said Pasma.