Migrant Worker Arrested in Dumai with 10 Kg of Methamphetamine Upon Return from Malaysia
The Narcotics Unit of Dumai Police Department foiled an international drug smuggling operation, apprehending a migrant worker identified as WN (25) with approximately 10 kilogrammes of methamphetamine.
Dumai Police Chief AKBP Angga Febrian Herlambang explained that the drug seizure began with intelligence regarding methamphetamine smuggling through international routes entering Dumai. Police pursued the information and eventually arrested the suspect in Medang Kampai, Dumai, on 4 March 2026.
“From our intensive investigation and case review, we identified one suspect with initials MN, aged 25, a resident of Kendal, Central Java,” Angga stated on Wednesday (11 March 2026).
Police searched the backpack carried by the suspect. According to the account, the suspect concealed the methamphetamine inside the backpack by carefully stitching it and then wrapping it with strong plastic material to avoid detection.
“The evidence was hidden by being neatly stitched inside the backpack and rewrapped using durable plastic material so it was not immediately visible,” he added.
The suspect was a migrant worker. Meanwhile, Dumai Police Narcotics Chief AKP Riza Effyandi described the suspect MN as playing the role of methamphetamine courier. The suspect was an Indonesian migrant worker employed in Malaysia.
“This suspect is an Indonesian migrant worker who intended to return home to Central Java. He was approached by someone with initials M, currently wanted by police, to transport the methamphetamine,” Riza explained.
The plan involved handing over the methamphetamine to someone with initials F awaiting collection in Dumai, before being transported back to Central Java and Madura for distribution. The suspect was arrested shortly after disembarking from a speedboat at Saleh Port, Pelintung, Medang Kampai District.
“When we intercepted him, the suspect was pushing his damaged motorcycle. When we searched the backpack he was carrying, initially only clothing was visible. However, after opening the stitched backpack, we discovered the methamphetamine hidden inside,” he explained.
After weighing, the net weight of the seized methamphetamine was 9.96 kilogrammes, which converted to approximately 9.96 billion rupiah in value. Through this operation, police potentially prevented harm to approximately 49,000 individuals.
The suspect admitted he was promised 30 million rupiah if he successfully delivered the methamphetamine to the recipient in Dumai. However, at the time of arrest, the suspect had only received 2.4 million rupiah for travel expenses.
For his actions, the suspect faces charges under Article 114 Paragraph (2) of Law No. 35 of 2009 concerning Narcotics, combined with Law No. 1 of 2023 concerning the Criminal Code and Law No. 1 of 2026 concerning Penalty Adjustment, carrying potential penalties of death, life imprisonment, or imprisonment of a minimum of 5 years and maximum of 20 years.