Medan Drug Syndicate Hid 680 Grams of Methamphetamine Inside Books
The North Sumatra Regional Police (Polda Sumut) Narcotics Directorate has foiled an attempt to smuggle 680 grams of methamphetamine sent using the guise of modified hollowed-out books.
The package was intended to be shipped from Medan to Mataram, West Nusa Tenggara, via a courier service in the Medan area.
North Sumatra Police Narcotics Director Commissioner Andy Arisandi said the case was uncovered as a result of an expanded investigation into an inter-provincial drug trafficking network.
“We uncovered a methamphetamine shipment packaged inside books that had been hollowed out and modified. The package was to be sent via a courier service to Mataram, Lombok,” Andy said in Medan on Tuesday (24 February).
In the operation, police arrested three suspects identified by the initials IS, DP and GA at separate locations on Friday (13 February).
IS and DP were apprehended first in Tanjung Sari sub-district, Medan Selayang district, Medan, at approximately 6.00 pm local time.
“The arrest began with officers going undercover as prospective buyers of five grams of methamphetamine priced at Rp2 million. During the transaction, DP arrived carrying a packet of cigarettes which was then handed over to IS,” he explained.
Officers who had been conducting surveillance immediately moved in to arrest both suspects. During initial questioning, IS and DP admitted they had obtained the methamphetamine from suspect GA. Officers then pursued and apprehended GA in the Jalan Bersama area, Tanjung Gusta sub-district, Sunggal district, Deli Serdang regency.
“At the time of arrest, officers initially found no evidence at the location. However, after further interrogation, GA revealed the location of his residence — a rented room on Jalan Guru Sinumba, Sei Kambing sub-district, Medan Helvetia district, Medan,” Andy elaborated.
At the rented room, police discovered 0.4 grams of methamphetamine, an iPhone 13 Pro mobile phone, and a courier service shipping receipt.
The receipt indicated the package was addressed to an individual identified by the initial S in Mataram, West Nusa Tenggara. This finding raised suspicions of a large-scale methamphetamine shipment.
“Officers then coordinated with the courier service to cancel the registered shipment. Upon arriving at the courier office on Jalan Brigjen Katamso, Medan, officers found one suspicious package,” he said.
When opened, the package contained two books with their centres hollowed out. Inside were seven clear plastic clip bags containing methamphetamine with a total weight of approximately 680 grams.
“Officers opened the package and indeed found seven clear plastic clip bags containing methamphetamine concealed inside the modified books,” Andy said.
According to GA’s testimony, the method of shipping methamphetamine inside hollowed-out books had been used repeatedly, with Mataram as the destination. Police suspect the network is part of an inter-provincial drug trafficking syndicate. North Sumatra Police are continuing their investigation to track down other individuals involved in the network.
“From the investigation, the suspect admitted to having sent methamphetamine to Mataram several times using the same method. We are continuing to investigate in order to uncover the network above him,” Andy said.