Drug Package Sent to Kodim Manggarai Barat, Five TNI Soldiers Involved

Five members of the Indonesian Army (TNI AD) from Komando Distrik Militer (Kodim) 1630/Manggarai Barat in Labuan Bajo, Manggarai Barat, Nusa Tenggara Timur (NTT), are suspected of involvement in a drug case. They are initialled A, R, S, I, and W. The drug case implicating them came to light following the receipt of a mysterious package suspected to contain drugs at Kodim 1630/Manggarai Barat.

Three individuals tested positive for drug use based on urine and blood tests, namely A, R, and S. Meanwhile, I and W did not use the illicit substances. However, both are suspected of acting as intermediaries.

“Those five are the ones indicated; three tested positive on urine tests, while two did not. The positives are A, R, and S. I and W are negative,” stated Commander of Kodim (Dandim) 1630/Manggarai Barat, Lieutenant Colonel Infantry Budiman Manurung, in Labuan Bajo on Monday afternoon (11/5/2026).

Budiman said the five TNI members have been handed over to Sub Denpom IX/1-1 Ende for further investigation. “They have been handed over to Denpom, both the positives and the negatives. Because the negatives are indicated as recipients of the goods,” Budiman explained.

The suspected drug abuse began when, on 19 April 2026, the on-duty personnel at Kodim 1630/Manggarai Barat received a mysterious package. The package had no sender or recipient names. Due to suspicion about its contents, the package was opened. Suspected drugs were found inside.

Budiman said they do not yet know the type of drug. It must undergo laboratory testing, which is under Denpom’s authority. However, the drug, he revealed, is in crystal form. Its weight is estimated to be less than one gram.

“The type is unknown because the contents need to be lab-tested first. Its form is crystal. Denpom is handling it directly,” Budiman said.

Kodim 1630/Manggarai Barat then traced the origin of the drugs sent via the mysterious package. The investigation lasted three days. It was found that the illicit goods were sent through a travel service to Kodim 1630/Manggarai Barat.

The sender was revealed to be A. He sent the drugs from Lembor, Manggarai Barat. The names of the other four individuals then came to light.