Chief Officer of Smuggling Vessel Sentenced to Life Imprisonment for 1.9 Tonnes of Methamphetamine

Richard Halomoan, chief officer of the vessel Sea Dragon involved in smuggling narcotics weighing 1.9 tonnes, has been sentenced to life imprisonment. The judge deemed Richard held a significant role due to his position as chief officer.

According to detiksumut, the verdict was delivered by a panel of judges chaired by Chief Judge Tiwik, with associate judges Douglas Napitupulu and Randi Jastian Afandi. The sentence was pronounced at the Batam District Court on 9 March 2025.

In the court’s decision, the panel of judges declared Richard proven beyond reasonable doubt of committing the criminal offence of conspiracy without authority to act as an intermediary in the sale and purchase of Class I narcotics not derived from plants, weighing more than 0.5 grammes.

“The court hereby sentences the accused Richard Halomoan Tambunan to life imprisonment,” stated Chief Judge Tiwik when announcing the verdict.

The judge identified several aggravating circumstances. Among these was the evidence in the case, which totalled 1.9 tonnes of methamphetamine, assessed as potentially causing severe damage to the nation’s future generation if distributed within Indonesia.

“The accused did not support the government’s programme in combating illicit narcotics trafficking,” the judge stated.