Customs and North Sumatra Police Seize 30kg of Methamphetamine Hidden in Chinese Tea in Asahan Waters
An attempt to smuggle approximately 30kg of methamphetamine from Malaysia has been thwarted in a joint operation by Customs and the North Sumatra Police (Polda Sumut) in Tanjung Api waters, Asahan Regency, North Sumatra, on Monday (18/05).
The operation was conducted under the Joint Task Force Operation Sriwijaya Net 2026, involving the Customs Enforcement and Investigation Directorate, Customs Narcotics Interdiction Directorate, North Sumatra Customs Regional Office, Riau Islands Special Customs Regional Office, Teluk Nibung Customs Office, and the North Sumatra Police Narcotics Special Unit (Ditresnarkoba).
‘Customs and the North Sumatra Police Narcotics Special Unit conducted the joint operation using BC 1508 patrol vessel from Teluk Nibung Customs on May 17, 2026. On May 18, the task force detected suspicious activity from a sampan (small boat) believed to originate from Malaysia with one person on board,’ said Customs Narcotics Interdiction Director R. Syarif Hidayat.
During the stop and search of the sampan, the task force found 30 packets of Guan Yin Wang Chinese tea suspected to contain methamphetamine, with a total weight of approximately 30,000 grams. Testing with the Rigaku narcotics testing device confirmed the presence of methamphetamine. The team also seized a silver-coloured, unnamed fishing sampan (kalok) used for transporting the drugs and one suspect identified as TH, alias Wak NO (54), a resident of Teluk Nibung District, Tanjung Balai City.
TH is currently undergoing further legal proceedings by the North Sumatra Police Narcotics Special Unit. The suspect is suspected of violating Law No. 35 of 2009 on Narcotics and Law No. 17 of 2006 amending Law No. 10 of 1995 on Customs.
Syarif stated that the successful uncovering of this cross-border smuggling network highlights the importance of inter-agency synergy in tackling increasingly complex drug trafficking. ‘Drug trafficking poses a real threat to society and the youth. Strengthening inter-agency cooperation and public support are key to breaking the chain of foreign-sourced narcotics,’ he said.
He added that sea routes remain a vulnerable point often exploited by international syndicates to smuggle narcotics into Indonesia. Therefore, joint maritime surveillance will be reinforced to prevent the entry of illegal goods that could harm social life and public health.
He explained that this seizure has potentially saved 150,000 lives from drug abuse, assuming one person consumes 0.2 grams of methamphetamine. Additionally, the operation is estimated to save the national budget up to Rp239.844 billion, which could be allocated to rehabilitating drug abuse victims.
All evidence and the suspect have been transferred to Teluk Nibung Customs Patrol Base and subsequently handed over to the North Sumatra Police Narcotics Special Unit for further network development and investigation. (RO/H-4)