Fandi, Ship Crew Member from Medan, Faces Death Penalty for Smuggling 2 Tonnes of Narcotics
A ship crew member (ABK) from Medan, North Sumatra, Fandi Ramadhan (26), is standing trial at Batam District Court in connection with the smuggling of 1,995,130 grams — approximately two tonnes — of methamphetamine. Prosecutors have demanded the death penalty.
According to the Court’s Case Tracking Information System (SIPP), as of Friday (20 February 2026), the trial has been under way since 23 October 2025. The case, registered under number 863/Pid.Sus/2025/PN Btm, continues to proceed through hearings.
In the indictment, prosecutors stated that the drug trafficking was carried out by Fandi together with Hasiholan Samosir, Leo Chandra Samosir, Richard Halomoan Tambunan, Teerapong Lekpradub, and Weerapat Phongwan alias Mr Pong. Another suspect, Mr Tan alias Jacky Tan, is currently on the wanted list.
According to the indictment, the case began in April 2025 when Hasiholan telephoned Fandi to offer him work as a crew member on a tanker. Fandi agreed and subsequently travelled with Hasiholan from Medan to Thailand by air.
Hasiholan then received coordinates — 07-15N/097-00E — for collecting cargo in Phuket, Thailand, from Mr Tan alias Jacky Tan via WhatsApp message. Tan alias Jacky Tan stated that the cargo did not contain oil.
Shortly afterwards, a Thai-flagged fishing vessel carrying four individuals approached the Sea Dragon, the ship on which Fandi and his associates were travelling. The four individuals then handed over 67 cardboard boxes wrapped in white plastic, containing methamphetamine.
According to the indictment, Fandi and his associates accepted the boxes without inspecting their contents. Prosecutors stated that Fandi, as a crew member, did not refuse to receive the boxes at sea rather than at a proper dock as would be expected.
The indictment further stated that Hasiholan instructed Fandi to remove the Thai national flag from the Sea Dragon. When Fandi was unable to do so, Hasiholan ordered Leo Chandra Samosir to remove it and throw it into the sea.
On 21 May 2025, Fandi and his associates were arrested. According to the indictment, 31 plastic-wrapped cardboard boxes were found on board the vessel. Inside, investigators discovered 30 packets of Chinese tea packaging bearing the Guanyinwang brand in green, each containing crystal powder that tested positive for methamphetamine.
A further 36 boxes were found containing the same Guanyinwang-branded Chinese tea packaging, with 35 boxes each holding 30 packets of crystal powder. The total quantity of methamphetamine seized amounted to 1,995,130 grams, or approximately two tonnes.
The trial progressed to the sentencing hearing on 5 February 2026, at which prosecutors expressed their conviction that Fandi had smuggled narcotics and demanded the death penalty.
Prosecutors stated that Fandi had been “proven legally and convincingly to have committed the criminal offence of conspiracy to unlawfully offer for sale, sell, purchase, act as intermediary in the sale, exchange, hand over, or receive Category I narcotics weighing in excess of five grams”, in violation of Article 114 Paragraph (2) in conjunction with Article 132 Paragraph (1) of Republic of Indonesia Law Number 35 of 2009 on Narcotics.
The prosecution demanded that the court impose the death penalty on Fandi Ramadhan, with an order for the defendant to remain in state detention.
Family Rejects Death Penalty Demand
Fandi’s father, Sulaiman (51), stated that he could not accept his son being sentenced to death. He maintained that his son had no knowledge of the drug smuggling operation.
“I cannot accept him facing the death penalty. They should have investigated this matter thoroughly first. My son knew nothing about it. We are deeply unhappy with the prosecution’s demand — I cannot bear my son being treated this way,” Sulaiman said through tears.
Sulaiman expressed hope that his son would be freed, maintaining that Fandi had been set up.
“I appeal to the President — I ask for justice. I ask that he be released because my son knew nothing; he was merely entrapped,” he said.