Aceh Student Arrested as Inter-Regional Drug Courier, 3 kg of Meth Seized

The Narcotics Unit of Soekarno-Hatta Airport Police (Polresta Bandara Soetta) has arrested a student from Aceh, identified by the initials NF, who was acting as an inter-regional drug courier. A total of 3.974 kilograms of crystal methamphetamine was seized.

“Officers arrested a student, NF, one of two suspects acting as couriers or ‘koperman’ for an inter-regional narcotics network. NF is a student from Aceh,” said Polresta Bandara Soetta Chief, Senior Commissioner Wisnu Wardana, in a statement on Tuesday (16/6/2026).

NF was arrested along with his associate, identified as TC. They were apprehended in the domestic departure waiting area of Terminal 2E at Soekarno-Hatta Airport. The estimated economic value of the 3.974 kilograms of methamphetamine is Rp 4.768 billion.

“With this seizure, authorities have successfully prevented the circulation of narcotics that could have potentially harmed around 19,870 members of the community,” Senior Commissioner Wisnu stated.

Wisnu said the case was uncovered through collaboration between the Soekarno-Hatta Airport Police Narcotics Unit and Soekarno-Hatta Customs, based on intelligence regarding a methamphetamine smuggling network from Aceh. “This success is a form of synergy among law enforcement agencies in breaking the chain of narcotics distribution entering via domestic air transport routes,” he said.

Chronology

Head of the Narcotics Unit, Adjunct Senior Commissioner Michael Kharisma Tandayu, explained that the case originated from the development of a methamphetamine enforcement operation in Tanjung Pinang in February 2026. From that development, officers obtained information about a shipment of methamphetamine from Banda Aceh controlled by a woman, identified as D, who is now on the wanted list (DPO).

“D is known to have prepared the methamphetamine and arranged the entire journey for the two couriers, including providing accommodation and tickets to Kendari, Southeast Sulawesi,” Michael said.

The methamphetamine was then transported by TC and NF overland from Banda Aceh to Medan, North Sumatra. After resting overnight in Medan, the two continued their overland journey to Jambi. “From Jambi, the suspects flew on Batik Air flight number ID6607 from Sultan Thaha Saifuddin Airport to Soekarno-Hatta Airport. Upon arrival in Jakarta, they planned to continue their flight to Kendari using Super Air Jet,” he revealed.

On Saturday (29/4) at around 11:30 WIB, while the two suspects were in the Gate E1 waiting area of Terminal 2E for domestic departures at Soekarno-Hatta Airport, Customs officers provided information to the Airport Police Narcotics Unit regarding two passengers suspected of carrying narcotics in their suitcases. “Following up on this information, the joint team immediately coordinated and conducted surveillance on the two suspects who were waiting for their departure to Kendari on a Super Air Jet flight scheduled to take off at 12:45 WIB,” he said.

At around 11:45 WIB, officers inspected the suspects’ luggage. From TC’s silver suitcase, two packages of methamphetamine were found, wrapped in clear plastic, weighing 0.995 kilograms and 0.992 kilograms respectively, totalling 1.987 kilograms. “Meanwhile, from NF’s black suitcase, officers found two other packages of methamphetamine weighing 0.991 kilograms and 0.996 kilograms respectively. The total methamphetamine found in NF’s suitcase also reached 1.987 kilograms,” Michael stated.

In total, 3.974 kilograms of methamphetamine were seized. After the evidence was discovered, both suspects were immediately detained and taken to Polresta Bandara Soekarno-Hatta for further examination and investigation.

Within the network, TC and NF acted as couriers carrying the suitcases containing methamphetamine. For delivering the packages, both suspects were promised a reward of Rp 20 million per kilogram, or Rp 40 million per person. “Payment would be made once the methamphetamine packages were successfully delivered. Meanwhile, a woman identified as D, who remains a fugitive, is suspected of acting as the network controller and the person who arranged the suspects’ journey to Kendari,” he disclosed.

For their actions, the suspects are charged under Article 114 Paragraph 2 in conjunction with Article 132 Paragraph 1 of Law Number 35 of 2009 on Narcotics, in conjunction with Article 609 Paragraph 2 letter a of Law Number 1 of 2026 on Criminal Adjustments. They face a maximum penalty of life imprisonment or a prison sentence of up to 20 years, and a fine of Rp 10 billion.