Police Foil Smuggling of 67 kg of Methamphetamine at Merak Port

Serang (ANTARA) - Banten Regional Police (Polda Banten) foiled the smuggling of 67 kilograms of methamphetamine and seized one firearm during several enforcement actions at Merak Port, Cilegon City. “This operation was conducted as part of securing public order and security (kamtibmas) during the 2026 Eid al-Fitr homecoming period,” said Banten Police Chief, Inspector General Pol. Hengki, in Serang on Wednesday. He explained that the evidence was secured from multiple enforcement actions throughout March in the port area. “The evidence of 15 kg of methamphetamine and one firearm was first secured from two pedestrian passengers at the Merak Executive Pier on 8 and 12 March,” he said. The perpetrators are suspected of exploiting the crowded port conditions during the homecoming rush to deceive officers. However, the attempt was foiled thanks to X-ray scanning equipment deployed by the police to check passengers’ luggage. Subsequently, on 18 March, officers seized 52 kg of methamphetamine from a minibus that had just arrived from Sumatra. The police have named three suspects who are strongly suspected to be part of an inter-island drug trafficking syndicate. “The firearm possession case is now being handled by the Directorate of Criminal Investigation, while the drug case involving a total of 67 kg of methamphetamine is being investigated further by the Directorate of Narcotics at Polda Banten,” he added. Throughout the period from January to February 2026, Polda Banten recorded 35 drug cases uncovered with a total of 54 suspects. The uncovering at Merak Port adds to the long list of police successes in suppressing the illicit circulation of narcotics in the Banten region.