Batam Customs and BNN Dismantle Narcotics Network in Batam
The Indonesian National Narcotics Board (BNN RI) and Customs held a press conference on Friday (31/07) at a crime scene in a boarding house in the Batu Ampar area, Batam City. The conference was held to present the results of a joint operation that successfully dismantled a narcotics smuggling and distribution network in Batam.
Through a series of simultaneous operations conducted at four different locations in Batam, the joint team from BNN RI and the Customs Directorate of Narcotics Interdiction managed to detain six suspects along with various types of narcotics evidence.
The discovery began with the vigilance of Customs officers at Soekarno-Hatta Airport, who suspected a package arriving from Malaysia. The package was declared as supplements destined for Batam. Subsequent in-depth testing by the Customs and Excise Laboratory (BLBC) Jakarta revealed the contents contained MDMA, Ketamine, and other dangerous chemicals. Following this finding, Customs coordinated with BNN RI to trace the recipient in Batam.
On Wednesday, 28 July 2026, the joint team traced an individual, identified as BAP, who was responsible for collecting the package. From BAP’s testimony, the team expanded their investigation to a boarding house in Batu Ampar, where they found several individuals testing positive for narcotics, psychotropics, and precursors (NPP).
Further investigation revealed that BAP collected the package under the orders of an individual with the initials ED. The team tracked and secured ED at a hotel in the Lubuk Baja area, along with three others identified as TFS, NI, and TT. From this location, officers found evidence including four cartridges suspected of containing Etomidate, three ecstasy pills, approximately 2.4 grams of suspected methamphetamine, and one packet of suspected Ketamine.
Further inspections of a vehicle belonging to TFS revealed five small clips of methamphetamine. The team then proceeded to the residence of TFS’s parents in the Teluk Tering area, where additional evidence including pods and ‘bong’ tubes were found. On Wednesday (29/07), a search was conducted at an apartment in Teluk Tering occupied by TFS and NI, yielding 71 vape units suspected of containing Etomidate and two sachets labelled ‘Happy Water’ suspected of containing methamphetamine.
On Friday, 30 July 2026, a search of a boarding room in Batu Ampar occupied by RR and FDL uncovered 91 vape units suspected of containing Etomidate. As a final sweep, Customs Batam’s K9 unit conducted a re-inspection of the Batu Ampar boarding house area.
In a separate but closely timed enforcement action, Customs Batam officials intercepted an attempt to smuggle 48 vape cartridges containing Etomidate at the Batam Centre International Ferry Terminal. The items were carried by a Malaysian national, identified as PS, arriving from Stulang Laut. This case is still under further investigation by Batam Customs.
From this operation, the joint team successfully secured various types of narcotics evidence. It is estimated that approximately 6,770 lives were saved from the threat of narcotics abuse, while the enforcement also saved the state an estimated Rp10.8 billion in potential healthcare rehabilitation costs.
The perpetrators are suspected of violating Articles 114 (2) juncto Article 132 (1) and/or Article 112 (2) juncto Article 132 (1) of Law Number 35 of 2009 concerning Narcotics, which carries a minimum prison sentence of 5 years up to life imprisonment, or even the death penalty, and fines ranging from Rp1 billion to Rp10 billion. All suspects and evidence have been secured for further investigation.
“This operation emphasises that cross-agency synergy is not merely about law enforcement, but a tangible protection for thousands of community members. Batam Customs has been monitoring the smuggling trend of Etomidate in vapes since the beginning of the year, and the exposure of this network is a concrete follow-up to the surveillance we conduct daily at Batam’s border gates,” said Agung Widodo, Head of the Batam Customs Office.