Customs and Police Dismantle Malaysia-Indonesia Narcotics Network, Seize 80 Kg of Meth
A joint operation by the Directorate General of Customs and Excise, the National Police Criminal Investigation Unit (Bareskrim), and the Densus 88 counter-terrorism squad has dismantled an international narcotics network operating between Malaysia and Indonesia. The operation, conducted from 26 July to 1 August 2026, resulted in the seizure of approximately 80 kilograms of methamphetamine and 5,200 ecstasy pills smuggled via sea routes to the eastern coast of Sumatra.
The operation involved the Customs Narcotics Interdiction Directorate, the Customs Regional Office of Eastern Sumatra, Customs Batam, Customs Dumai, Bareskrim, and Densus 88. Acting Director of Customs Narcotics Interdiction, Erwin Situmorang, stated that the cross-agency collaboration was crucial in disrupting the international smuggling route.
The case began with intelligence sharing and joint analysis regarding a drug shipment from Malaysia destined for Palembang, South Sumatra. On 26 July 2026, a combined sea patrol and land surveillance team was deployed to monitor the entry point and distribution network. On 29 July, officers intercepted the shipment in a creek in Pekaitan District, Rokan Hilir, Riau, where they apprehended a man moving four cardboard boxes. The boxes contained 80 packages of Chinese-branded tea filled with methamphetamine and 5,200 MDMA pills.
Investigations revealed the operation was coordinated by a field controller identified as AR, while a man known as I was responsible for collecting the goods at sea. Two couriers, TM and SH, were tasked with transporting the narcotics overland to Palembang. All four suspects were arrested later that day in Pekaitan.
To uncover the wider network, the joint team conducted a controlled delivery operation to Palembang on 30 July 2026. The following day, a suspect identified as YN was arrested after picking up the vehicle carrying the drugs at the Arista Hotel in Palembang. YN confessed to acting on the orders of an individual identified as A, with payments channelled through a bank account belonging to M, who was suspected of facilitating communication and managing operational funds. M was subsequently arrested in Tanjung Balai Karimun on 1 August.
The investigation revealed a highly organised, multi-layered courier system involving cross-border controllers, sea pick-ups, land couriers, receivers, communication facilitators, and financial managers. Erwin emphasised that the successful operation not only halted the smuggling attempt but also strengthened public protection and supported a secure business and logistics climate. He affirmed that Customs and law enforcement partners would continue to strengthen intelligence-based surveillance, patrols, and information exchange to anticipate various drug smuggling methods.