Inmate Caught Hiding Meth After Being Asked to Squat by Salemba Prison Officers

An inmate with the initials FK allegedly attempted to smuggle methamphetamine and ecstasy into the Class I State Detention Centre (Rutan) in Central Jakarta. The suspected narcotics were intended to be distributed inside the detention centre.

“When entering the body search area, officers noticed suspicious behaviour from the inmate,” said the Head of the Class I Detention Centre in Central Jakarta, Wahyu Trah Utomo, in a written statement on Thursday (6/8/2026).

The smuggling attempt took place at 7.00 pm Western Indonesia Time on Tuesday (4/8). At that time, FK had just returned to Salemba Prison and was undergoing a body search after attending a court hearing at the West Jakarta District Court.

Wahyu said FK had difficulty when asked to squat during the search. He explained that a plastic clip containing suspected methamphetamine weighing 8.54 grams and suspected ecstasy weighing 2.18 grams fell out when FK was asked to squat.

“Thanks to the thoroughness and vigilance of officers in carrying out a comprehensive search, the individual appeared to have difficulty when asked to squat. When the officer ordered him to remain squatting, a black plastic package fell from his body,” said Wahyu.

“After it was opened, two plastic clips containing white powder suspected to be methamphetamine weighing 8.54 grams and one package containing crushed pink pills suspected to be ecstasy weighing 2.18 grams were found,” he continued.

Based on FK’s initial confession, Wahyu said the suspected narcotics were obtained from a visitor and were planned to be distributed inside the detention centre under the control of another inmate with the initials DM. He added that FK was promised a payment of Rp 1 million.

“Upon the discovery, officers immediately coordinated with the Head of the Security Unit and the Head of the Detention Centre, and secured the inmate along with the evidence to be subsequently reported to the Regional Office of the Ministry of Law and Human Rights of DKI Jakarta and handed over to the Metro Jaya Regional Police for further investigation and development,” he said.

Furthermore, Wahyu stressed that his office would not tolerate any officers or inmates who violate the rules of the detention centre. FK and the evidence have now been handed over to the police for further examination.

“The success of this disclosure is clear evidence of the commitment of the Class I Detention Centre in Central Jakarta to creating a correctional environment free from drug trafficking and supporting the implementation of the Zero HALINAR programme (Mobile Phones, Illegal Levies, and Drugs) within the correctional environment,” he concluded.