Police foil drug trafficking disguised as Indian rice in Central Jakarta

Jakarta (ANTARA) - The Narcotics Directorate of the Jakarta Metropolitan Police has foiled a drug trafficking operation involving etomidate and ecstasy pills smuggled in packaging disguised as Indian basmati rice, linked to a Malaysian network.

Kasubdit 2 of the Narcotics Directorate, AKBP Triyatno Pamungkas, stated on Thursday that police arrested two men, identified as T (26) and Y (29), at a boarding house in the Paseban area, Central Jakarta, on Saturday (20/6).

“We successfully uncovered the distribution of 94 cartridges of etomidate and 102 ecstasy pills,” he said.

Triyatno explained that the case began with a tip-off from the public regarding narcotics activity in the Paseban area. “Following up on the report, the Sub-Directorate 2 team of the Jakarta Metro Police Narcotics Directorate conducted an investigation and arrested the two suspects on Saturday (20/6) at around 12.40 WIB,” he stated.

At the first location, officers seized a cardboard box containing five modified packages of basmati rice and one package of curry spices. Based on initial examinations of the two suspects, officers then expanded the investigation to an apartment in the Tanah Abang area, Central Jakarta. At the second location, officers found two ecstasy pills suspected to be from the same network.

Regarding the modus operandi, Triyatno revealed that the perpetrators used courier services to send the illicit goods in an attempt to deceive the authorities. “The suspects’ method was to send the goods via courier from Medan to Jakarta, concealed within Indian rice. According to information we have received, the perpetrators are connected to a Malaysian network,” Triyatno said.

Currently, both suspects and all evidence have been taken to the Jakarta Metro Police Narcotics Directorate office for further investigation and case development.