Customs Thwarts Smuggling of 36 kg of Methamphetamine at Bakauheni Port
Bandar Lampung (ANTARA) - The Regional Office of the Directorate General of Customs and Excise (DJBC) for Western Sumatra and the Bakauheni Seaport Customs and Excise Type B Office in Bandar Lampung have foiled an attempt to smuggle 36 kilograms (kg) of crystal methamphetamine at Bakauheni Port, South Lampung Regency.
“Together with the National Police Criminal Investigation Agency, Lampung Regional Police, South Lampung Police Resort Narcotics Unit, Bakauheni Port Security and Facilitation Unit, and support from the DJBC Narcotics Interdiction Directorate and K9 Unit, we have successfully thwarted two attempts to smuggle methamphetamine (crystal meth) with a total of 36 kg of evidence,” said the Head of the DJBC Western Sumatra Regional Office, Bier Budy Kismulyanto, in Bandar Lampung on Monday.
He explained that the uncovering of the methamphetamine smuggling took place on Wednesday (15/4) at the entrance to Bakauheni Port, when officers stopped and inspected a four-wheeled vehicle and discovered 29 kilograms of the substance.
“The illicit goods were hidden using a ‘false concealment’ method in the left and right door sections of the vehicle. Two perpetrators were successfully secured in the enforcement action,” he said.
False concealment is a smuggling method for illegal goods, particularly narcotics, psychotropics, and precursors (NPP), by hiding the items inside shipments, luggage, or the body, but packaged in a way to deceive inspection officers.
“Two perpetrators were rearrested for further legal proceedings. All evidence and suspects from both enforcements have been handed over to the National Police Criminal Investigation Agency for further investigation development and uncovering of broader networks,” he said.
Bier emphasised that this success is the result of collaboration and collective vigilance.
The foiling of the 36-kilogram methamphetamine smuggling serves as proof that synergy among agencies and strengthened supervision at strategic cross-border routes like Bakauheni Port is highly effective.
“Customs is committed to continuing synergy in protecting society from narcotics threats,” he said.
“With the addition of foiling the smuggling of 36 kilograms of crystal meth on 15-16 April 2026, the total evidence of this type from 2026 up to April has reached approximately 117.8 kilograms,” he said.
He stated that this achievement affirms the strategic role of Customs in synergy with other law enforcement apparatus in monitoring cross-border routes and efforts to break the narcotics distribution chain.
“We are committed to continuing to strengthen intelligence information exchange, enhancing inter-agency synergy, and optimising supervision to safeguard Indonesian territory from narcotics threats and support national security,” he said.