Ornamental Fish Driver Arrested in Jembrana for Acting as Crystal Meth Courier Between Java and Bali

The Jembrana Resort Police (Polres) have uncovered seven narcotics criminal cases during the August-September 2026 period. From these operations, police apprehended eight suspects and seized 111.25 grams of crystal methamphetamine (shabu-shabu).

Jembrana Police Chief, AKBP Cheery Sinta Maygrand Simamora, revealed that the eight suspects detained consist of seven men and one woman. One notable arrest involved a suspect with the initials FAP in the Pendem Village area, Jembrante District.

Cheery explained that FAP, who works daily as a driver for ornamental fish transport, took the risk of acting as a drug courier between Java and Bali for a fee of Rp 1 million. From FAP’s possession, police seized a package containing approximately 98 grams of crystal methamphetamine.

“The suspect’s modus operandi involved carrying the methamphetamine package from Java hidden in his trouser pocket. Upon arriving in Gilimanuk, the perpetrator used a ‘drop-off’ method under an electric pole in front of the weighing station (UPPKB Cekik Gilimanuk). After disembarking in Pendem, the suspect was successfully apprehended,” Cheery stated during a press conference at the Jembrana Regency Auditorium on Saturday (19/9/2026).

During police interrogation, FAP admitted this was his first time distributing crystal methamphetamine in the Gilimanuk and Pendem areas of Jembrana. However, FAP did not deny that his primary objective was to transport the illegal supply towards Denpasar.

Cheery estimated that the total value of the methamphetamine seized from the seven cases uncovered over the last two months amounts to hundreds of millions of rupiah. He noted that these arrests have also saved thousands of lives from the threat of narcotics.

“The total weight of the seized methamphetamine is 119.02 grams gross. At an assumed price of Rp 1.7 million per gram, it is valued at approximately Rp 194 million. From the amount of evidence seized, we estimate that we have saved roughly 2,200 people from the dangers of narcotics abuse,” said Cheery.

All suspects are reported to have no prior criminal records. For their actions, the suspects face charges under Article 609 of Law Number 1 of 2023 regarding the Criminal Code (KUHP) in conjunction with Law Number 1 of 2026.

“For possession of Class I narcotics (non-plant) weighing more than 5 grams, the penalty is life imprisonment or a prison term of between five and 20 years, along with fines as prescribed by law,” Cheery emphasised.