Jelambar Baru Raid: Police Find Suitcase Packed with Crystal Methamphetamine Ready for Distribution
The narcotics investigation unit of the Central Jakarta Metropolitan Police has dismantled a large-scale narcotics distribution network valued at Rp10 billion, seizing 7.2 kilogrammes of crystal methamphetamine.
During the operation, police arrested a suspect with the initials SH, aged 35, in the Grogol Petamburan area of West Jakarta.
Central Jakarta Metropolitan Police Chief Commissioner Reynold EP Hutagalung stressed that this success demonstrates his unit’s firmness in taking action against anyone involved in the narcotics syndicate within Jakarta’s jurisdiction.
“We succeeded in uncovering the distribution of crystal methamphetamine worth Rp10 billion, totalling 7.2 kilogrammes,” Reynold said in a written statement received by Metrotvnews.com on Tuesday (15/9).
Reynold emphasised that the bust proves that the Central Jakarta Metropolitan Police offers no room for drug dealers to operate.
“Narcotics are not merely an enemy of the law, but a real enemy of the nation’s future. We will continue both preventive and repressive efforts to ensure Central Jakarta is free from narcotics distribution,” Reynold asserted.
The case came to light following a tip-off from members of the public about suspicious activity on Jalan Jelambar Baru Raya. After intensive surveillance, the Operations Team of Unit 3 of the Narcotics Investigation Unit moved swiftly to apprehend SH on Sunday (30/8).
The Head of the Central Jakarta Metropolitan Police’s Narcotics Investigation Unit, Assistant Commissioner Wisnu S Kuncoro, explained that during the initial search, officers found a package of narcotics inside a paper bag.
Officers then searched the suspect’s rented room and discovered a grey suitcase containing seven large packages of crystal methamphetamine ready for distribution.
“The suspect’s modus operandi was acting as a middleman in narcotics transactions. Based on his confession, the suspect worked on the orders of a dealer with the initials B, who is now on the wanted list. For every kilogramme successfully distributed, the suspect was promised a fee of Rp5 million,” Wisnu said.
The suspect SH is recorded as having received payment of Rp6 million, with the remainder promised to be paid in full once all the evidence had been sold.
In addition to seizing 7,218.1 grammes of crystal methamphetamine as the primary evidence, the Central Jakarta Metropolitan Police ensured the investigation proceeded transparently, including urine tests, witness examinations, and laboratory testing of the evidence at the National Police Criminal Investigation Department’s forensic laboratory.
“With the seizure of these 7.2 kilogrammes of crystal methamphetamine, we estimate we have saved around 72,200 young people from the trap of drug addiction,” Wisnu concluded.
For his actions, the suspect SH has been charged under Article 114 paragraph (2) in conjunction with Article 112 paragraph (2) of Law Number 35 of 2009 on Narcotics, carrying a potential sentence of death, life imprisonment, or a minimum of 6 years and a maximum of 20 years’ imprisonment.
The Central Jakarta Metropolitan Police also urged the public to actively report suspicious activities related to narcotics abuse.