Drug Courier in Aceh Arrested During COD, Marijuana Hidden in Bushes
A joint team from the National Police Criminal Investigation Department (Bareskrim Polri) and the Lhokseumawe Customs and Excise Office arrested a marijuana courier named Herizal Hasballah in Nagan Raya Regency, Aceh. The suspect attempted to deceive officers by hiding the illicit goods in the bushes.
The arrest took place at Km 2, Blang Puuk Village, Beutong Ateuh Banggalang District, Nagan Raya, on Sunday, 26 July 2026, at approximately 5.30 p.m. Western Indonesia Time, led by Senior Commissioner Handik Zusen and Senior Commissioner Kavin Leleury.
Brigadier General Eko Hadi Santoso, Director of Narcotics Crime at Bareskrim Polri, explained that the arrest stemmed from public information regarding marijuana distribution destined for Lhokseumawe City. Officers then conducted surveillance at the suspected transaction location.
‘On Sunday, 26 July 2026, at around 5.30 p.m. WIB, the Sub-Directorate IV team together with Lhokseumawe Customs managed to secure one suspect who was waiting for someone to hand over marijuana in Blang Puuk Village, Beutong Ateuh Banggalang, Nagan Raya, Aceh,’ said Brigadier General Eko in a statement on Monday, 3 August.
When apprehended, suspect Herizal initially denied carrying narcotics. However, officers were not convinced and proceeded to search the area where the suspect was standing.
‘After the team conducted a search of suspect Herizal Hasballah and the surrounding area where he stood, namely in the bushes, the team found a grey Elgini brand bag containing six packages of dried marijuana,’ Eko revealed.
After the evidence was presented, the suspect finally admitted that he had deliberately placed the bag containing 6 kg of marijuana in the bushes to avoid detection by residents while waiting for the recipient, known as Bagek, who is now on the wanted list.
Based on interrogation results, suspect Herizal admitted to obtaining the goods from a supplier named Sipon, who is also on the wanted list. He was promised a fee of Rp 200,000 for a single delivery.
‘Suspect Herizal Hasballah admitted to having worked three times delivering marijuana to Bagek,’ Eko added.
Further investigation revealed that suspect Herizal is a repeat drug offender who escaped from prison in 2018.
‘The suspect Herizal is a former convict in a 3-kilogram marijuana case, sentenced to 8 years in prison, serving his sentence at Lambaro Penitentiary in Banda Aceh. Suspect Herizal also admitted that six months before his sentence was due to end, he escaped from Lambaro Penitentiary, around November 2018,’ he explained.
In this operation, police seized evidence including 6 kilograms of dried marijuana, a mobile phone, and a motorcycle. Eko stated that his party is still conducting further investigations to locate marijuana fields in the region.
The economic value of the marijuana evidence is estimated to reach Rp 24,361,680. He also noted that this seizure successfully saved 18,271 lives from the threat of drug abuse.