An attempt to smuggle approximately 30kg of methamphetamine from\nMalaysia has been thwarted in a joint operation by Customs and the North\nSumatra Police (Polda Sumut) in Tanjung Api waters, Asahan Regency,\nNorth Sumatra, on Monday (18\/05).<\/p>\n
The operation was conducted under the Joint Task Force Operation\nSriwijaya Net 2026, involving the Customs Enforcement and Investigation\nDirectorate, Customs Narcotics Interdiction Directorate, North Sumatra\nCustoms Regional Office, Riau Islands Special Customs Regional Office,\nTeluk Nibung Customs Office, and the North Sumatra Police Narcotics\nSpecial Unit (Ditresnarkoba).<\/p>\n
\u2018Customs and the North Sumatra Police Narcotics Special Unit\nconducted the joint operation using BC 1508 patrol vessel from Teluk\nNibung Customs on May 17, 2026. On May 18, the task force detected\nsuspicious activity from a sampan (small boat) believed to originate\nfrom Malaysia with one person on board,\u2019 said Customs Narcotics\nInterdiction Director R. Syarif Hidayat.<\/p>\n
During the stop and search of the sampan, the task force found 30\npackets of Guan Yin Wang Chinese tea suspected to contain\nmethamphetamine, with a total weight of approximately 30,000 grams.\nTesting with the Rigaku narcotics testing device confirmed the presence\nof methamphetamine. The team also seized a silver-coloured, unnamed\nfishing sampan (kalok) used for transporting the drugs and one suspect\nidentified as TH, alias Wak NO (54), a resident of Teluk Nibung\nDistrict, Tanjung Balai City.<\/p>\n
TH is currently undergoing further legal proceedings by the North\nSumatra Police Narcotics Special Unit. The suspect is suspected of\nviolating Law No.\u00a035 of 2009 on Narcotics and Law No.\u00a017 of 2006\namending Law No.\u00a010 of 1995 on Customs.<\/p>\n
Syarif stated that the successful uncovering of this cross-border\nsmuggling network highlights the importance of inter-agency synergy in\ntackling increasingly complex drug trafficking. \u2018Drug trafficking poses\na real threat to society and the youth. Strengthening inter-agency\ncooperation and public support are key to breaking the chain of\nforeign-sourced narcotics,\u2019 he said.<\/p>\n
He added that sea routes remain a vulnerable point often exploited by\ninternational syndicates to smuggle narcotics into Indonesia. Therefore,\njoint maritime surveillance will be reinforced to prevent the entry of\nillegal goods that could harm social life and public health.<\/p>\n
He explained that this seizure has potentially saved 150,000 lives\nfrom drug abuse, assuming one person consumes 0.2 grams of\nmethamphetamine. Additionally, the operation is estimated to save the\nnational budget up to Rp239.844 billion, which could be allocated to\nrehabilitating drug abuse victims.<\/p>\n
All evidence and the suspect have been transferred to Teluk Nibung\nCustoms Patrol Base and subsequently handed over to the North Sumatra\nPolice Narcotics Special Unit for further network development and\ninvestigation. (RO\/H-4)<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/customs-and-north-sumatra-police-seize-30kg-of-methamphetamine-hidden-in-chinese-tea-in-asahan-waters-1780031592", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }