Indonesian Police Arrest Courier for Malaysian Ecstasy Network, Carrying 9,162 Pills for Only Rp700,000

The National Police Criminal Investigation Agency (Bareskrim Polri) Narcotics Crime Directorate has successfully arrested Muhammad Hadi, also known as Muham (31), who was found carrying ecstasy suspected to belong to a Malaysia-Medan drug syndicate. The arrest was carried out by a joint team from Subdit IV and the NIC Task Force of the Bareskrim Polri Narcotics Crime Directorate, led by Kombes Handik Zusen and Kombes Kevin Leleury, in the Manhattan Times Square Mall area, Medan, North Sumatra, on Thursday, 30 July 2026.

“The NIC Task Force Team 1, Subdit IV of the Bareskrim Polri Narcotics Crime Directorate, and the North Sumatra Regional Customs Office have uncovered the illegal circulation of ecstasy within the Malaysia-Medan network,” stated Director of Narcotics Crime, Brigadier General Pol Eko Hadi Santoso, in a statement released on Saturday, 1 August 2026.

During surveillance, officers became suspicious of a man carrying a black backpack at approximately 12:30 WIB. The team followed him before intercepting him at the exit of the Manhattan Times Square Mall. Upon searching the suspect, officers discovered two large clear plastic bags containing suspected ecstasy inside the black backpack.

As a result of the arrest, police seized one black bag containing approximately 9,162 ecstasy pills and 68 grams of ecstasy powder. Based on investigations, Hadi admitted that he had known an individual named Yuki for about five years as they lived in the same village. On Wednesday, 29 July 2026, he was offered the job of transporting the ecstasy for a reward of Rp700,000.

After reaching an agreement, Yuki provided Hadi with a mobile phone the following day to facilitate communication with the drug lord managing the shipment. “Because he was in need of money for daily necessities and had been unemployed for a long time, the suspect accepted the offer,” Eko explained.

“The suspect was promised a payment of Rp700,000 by an individual referred to as ‘Y’ upon the successful collection of the goods. The suspect had already received an initial payment of Rp300,000 via bank transfer,” he added.

Hadi was instructed to deliver the ecstasy to Yuki in Tuntungan I Village, Pancur Batu District, Deli Serdang Regency, North Sumatra. The illegal narcotics were reportedly an order for an individual named Luken, residing near Namorambe, Deli Serdang.