Batam District Court Sentences Three Crew Members of Ship Sea Dragon in Near-2-Ton Methamphetamine Case
The Batam District Court (PN Batam) in Riau Islands Province has handed down verdicts against three crew members of the Sea Dragon vessel in a drug smuggling case involving approximately 2 tonnes of methamphetamine.
Presiding Judge Tiwik delivered the sentences against the three crew members on Monday, 9 March 2026, following convictions of three other defendants the previous week.
In the ruling, Chief Officer Richard Halomoan Tambunan was found guilty of unlawful conspiracy and acting as an intermediary in the distribution of Class I narcotics. He was sentenced to life imprisonment. The court determined Tambunan was proven guilty beyond reasonable doubt of facilitating the sale and distribution of narcotics exceeding 5 grammes, as charged by the public prosecutor.
Ship Captain Hasiholan Samosir received an identical life sentence after being found guilty of conspiracy in narcotics trafficking. Helmsman Leo Candra Samosir, however, received a more lenient sentence of 15 years imprisonment.
The sentences are less severe than the death penalty sought by the Batam State Prosecutor’s Office against all six defendants in the case. Three other crew members received verdicts earlier: Fandi Ramadhan was sentenced to five years imprisonment on 5 March, whilst two Thai crew members, Weerepat Phongwan and Teerapong Lekpradube, were sentenced to life imprisonment and 17 years respectively on 6 March.
The evidence in the case comprised 67 cardboard boxes containing tea packaging from China, with 66 boxes each containing 30 packets of tea packaging hiding methamphetamine packets inside. One additional box contained 20 packets of tea packaging with crystalline powder narcotics. The total net weight of the seized narcotics reached 1,995.139 grammes, nearly 2 tonnes.
The court cited as aggravating factors the massive quantity of narcotics close to 2 tonnes and the potential harm to Indonesia’s younger generation if the drugs had entered the country, as well as the defendants’ failure to support the government’s anti-narcotics programme. Only Leo Candra Samosir received mitigating factors, with the court noting his courteous behaviour during trial proceedings and his young age, suggesting potential for rehabilitation.
The court’s decision was based on Articles 114(2) and 132(1) of Law No. 35 of 2009 on Narcotics, Law No. 8 of 1981 on Criminal Procedure Code, and Law No. 1 of 2023 on Criminal Code.
Following the verdict announcement, all defendants through their legal counsel, as well as the public prosecutor, requested seven days to consider filing an appeal. The presiding judge then adjourned the proceedings.