Courier Smuggling Rp 5 Billion in Meth from Malaysia Arrested in Riau

A 27-year-old man identified by the initials AM was arrested at the Dumai Port Passenger Terminal in Riau after being caught providing courier services for goods from Malaysia containing methamphetamine. Police seized 5.09 kilograms of methamphetamine with an estimated value of Rp 5 billion. Dumai Police Chief AKBP Angga F Herlambang explained that the case was uncovered through collaboration between the Dumai Police and Customs. It began with a routine inspection by Dumai Customs officers of passengers’ belongings arriving from Malaysia on Saturday, 16 May. “At that time, suspect AM, who worked as an informal courier transporting goods from Malaysia to Indonesia, arrived at the Dumai Port Passenger Terminal. During an X-ray machine inspection, Customs officers became suspicious of an MBE-branded cardboard box carried by the suspect,” Angga said in a statement on Thursday, 18 June 2026. Officers then examined the items carried by AM, which contained five boxes labelled ‘coconut sugar’ and two packets of chocolate drink. However, upon closer inspection, the boxes did not contain palm sugar but rather suspected methamphetamine packages. “The examination revealed five Coconut Sugar boxes used to conceal methamphetamine-type narcotics. The goods were brought from Malaysia and were planned to be taken to Aceh,” Angga stated. Based on preliminary interrogation, the suspect admitted the package was entrusted by someone with the initials SB. He claimed to receive a fee of 140 Malaysian Ringgit to transport the package from Malaysia to Aceh. Following the discovery, Dumai Customs immediately coordinated with the Dumai Police. The suspect and evidence were subsequently handed over to investigators from the Dumai Police Narcotics Unit for further legal proceedings. Dumai Police Narcotics Unit Head AKP Riza Effyandi explained that the total evidence secured included methamphetamine with a gross weight of 5,094.07 grams, five Coconut Sugar boxes, one MBE-branded cardboard box, one gold iPhone 11 Pro mobile phone, and one boarding pass. “If these goods had been successfully distributed, the methamphetamine would have an economic value of approximately Rp 5 billion,” Riza said. With this case uncovered, an estimated 25,000 lives have been saved from the threat of drug abuse. Based on the assumption that one gram of methamphetamine can be used by five people, this seizure is estimated to have saved around 25,000 individuals from the threat of narcotics misuse. “This seizure is the result of excellent synergy between Dumai Customs and the Dumai Police in preventing the entry of narcotics through international port routes. We will continue to develop the case to uncover the network involved,” he added. For his actions, the suspect is charged under Article 114 paragraph (2) of the Republic of Indonesia Law Number 35 of 2009 on Narcotics and other related legal provisions. The suspect faces a maximum penalty of life imprisonment or a minimum of five years and a maximum of 20 years in prison, along with a fine of at least Rp 500 million and up to Rp 2 billion.