Drug Dealer Arrested in Serang, 45 Packets of Synthetic Tobacco Seized

The Narcotics Investigation Unit (Satresnarkoba) of Serang Police has arrested a young man with the initials FF (29), a dealer of synthetic tobacco, known locally as sinte. Police seized 45 packets of synthetic tobacco ready for distribution from the suspect.

The arrest took place on Friday (24/7) at around 02.00 Western Indonesia Time at a boarding house in Panggungjati Village, Taktakan Sub-district, Serang City. The operation followed up on a tip-off from the public reporting synthetic tobacco circulation in the area.

“Every report will be followed up professionally as a form of Serang Police’s commitment to creating an environment free of narcotics,” said Serang Police Chief AKBP Andri Kurniawan on Monday (27/7/2026).

During a search of the boarding house room, officers found 45 packets of synthetic tobacco ready for distribution, one large pack of genuine tobacco, one digital scale, and one mobile phone believed to have been used for transactions.

Narcotics Unit Head AKP Bondan Rahadiansyah added that all the evidence was found inside the suspect’s shoe box. The items were immediately secured for investigative purposes.

“In addition to seizing dozens of packets of synthetic tobacco ready for distribution, we also secured supporting equipment such as the digital scale and mobile phone believed to have been used to communicate with buyers,” said Bondan Rahadiansyah.

Initial questioning revealed that FF worked as an odd-job labourer. However, due to economic hardship, he resorted to running an illegal business as a synthetic tobacco dealer for the past two months.

“The suspect admitted to distributing synthetic tobacco in Serang Regency and Serang City. The illegal goods were marketed to customers using a pre-arranged transaction system,” said Bondan.

Bondan added that, based on the suspect’s confession, the synthetic tobacco was obtained from someone he met through an Instagram social media account. This information is still being investigated to uncover the supplier network above him.

“The suspect FF and all the evidence are currently being held at the Serang Police Narcotics Unit Office for further examination. Investigators are also continuing to develop the case to uncover the synthetic tobacco distribution network believed to still be operating,” he said.