Customs at Soekarno-Hatta Airport Foil Three Drug Smuggling Attempts
Tangerang (ANTARA) - The Soekarno-Hatta Customs and Excise Main Office in Tangerang, Banten, has successfully uncovered three narcotics smuggling cases through Soekarno-Hatta International Airport between March and June 2026.
The Head of the Soekarno-Hatta Customs Office, Hengky Tomuan Parlindungan Aritonang, stated that the three uncovered cases involved the smuggling of Methamphetamine, Cannabis, and Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) or Hashish.
“These cases were revealed through the collaborative efforts between Customs, the National Narcotics Agency (BNN) of Indonesia, and the Narcotics Unit of the Soekarno-Hatta Airport Police,” Hengky said in Tangerang on Wednesday.
He explained that the first enforcement action took place on Thursday (26/3) at the Cargo Terminal of Soekarno-Hatta Airport. According to him, officers discovered a shipment originating from the United States with Bali as its final destination.
“The shipment was declared as luggage, but upon inspection, it was found to contain Marijuana/Cannabis (false concealment) weighing 10,785 grams (gross),” he said.
Furthermore, the second enforcement action was carried out at Domestic Departure Terminal 2E of Soekarno-Hatta Airport on Wednesday (29/4). In this instance, joint officers detained two Indonesian passengers, identified by the initials NF (22) and C (20), travelling via Super Air Jet on the Jakarta (CGK) – Kendari (KDI) route.
“The two passengers are suspected of being couriers for a domestic drug network, using a method of hiding narcotics inside a blanket within their checked luggage (false concealment). The evidence seized was 4,000 grams of Class I Narcotics, specifically Methamphetamine/Shabu,” he explained.
Subsequently, the third enforcement action was conducted at Terminal 3 of Soekarno-Hatta Airport on Wednesday (3/6) night, targeting the belongings of a foreign national identified by the initials KK (52), travelling via Thai Lion Air on the Thailand (BKK) – Jakarta (CGK) route.
The passenger is suspected of acting as a drug courier, using a method of hiding drugs within a false compartment in the base of a suitcase. The items consisted of Class I Narcotics, specifically Hashish/Tetrahydrocannabinol, weighing 7,800 grams.
“Following further investigation and weight verification, the net weight was found to be 3,006 grams,” he added.
These enforcement actions are estimated to have saved approximately 22,758 lives of the nation’s younger generation and potentially saved around Rp36.39 billion in health rehabilitation costs.
Hengky stated that all suspects face charges under Law No. 35 of 2009 concerning Narcotics, which carries a maximum penalty of death or life imprisonment.
“The suspects and the evidence have been handed over to the National Narcotics Agency (BNN) and the Soekarno-Hatta Airport Police for further investigation,” he concluded.