Soetta Airport Police Arrest Four Foreign Nationals Smuggling Liquid Narcotics
Soekarno-Hatta Airport Police have foiled the smuggling of 8,600 millilitres of the Class II narcotic etomidate by an international network. Four foreign nationals from Malaysia, China, and Thailand, acting as couriers, were arrested by police on separate occasions.
“The four suspects arrested are TN, a Singaporean citizen; CT, a Malaysian citizen; JZ, a Chinese citizen; and SP, a Thai citizen. Thanks to cooperation with Customs, all smuggling attempts were successfully thwarted,” said Soekarno-Hatta Airport Police Chief, Senior Commissioner Wisnu Wardana, in Tangerang on Monday (22/6).
“This disclosure shows that Soekarno-Hatta Airport remains a target for international narcotics networks to bring etomidate into Indonesia,” he added.
Meanwhile, Head of the Narcotics Unit at Soekarno-Hatta Airport Police, Assistant Commissioner Michael Kharisma Tandayu, explained that the arrests resulted from foiling three smuggling cases between February and May 2026.
“The first case was uncovered on 21 May 2026 at around 11.00 pm WIB at Terminal 2F International Arrivals of Soekarno-Hatta Airport. Officers at that time became suspicious of luggage belonging to foreign nationals TN and CT, who had just arrived from Malaysia on AirAsia flight QZ241,” said Michael.
After the plane landed, Michael added, the team conducted an inspection of both individuals. In TN’s red suitcase, two silver-coloured plastic packages containing 2,000 ml of etomidate liquid weighing 1,995 grammes were found.
“Meanwhile, from CT’s silver-coloured suitcase, two bottles labelled ‘Dove’ containing 2,000 millilitres of etomidate with a gross weight of 2,244 grammes were discovered. The total evidence seized reached 4,000 millilitres of etomidate. Both suspects admitted they were ordered by an individual with the initials DN, who is now on the wanted list, to bring the goods to Jakarta,” Michael explained.
Suspect TN was promised a fee of 3,000 Singapore dollars, or approximately Rp42 million, while CT was promised a holiday trip to Indonesia. The economic value of the evidence is estimated to reach Rp47.47 billion and could potentially produce 6,782 vape cartridges containing etomidate.
Additionally, Michael said his unit uncovered a second case on 25 May 2026 at around 11.00 pm WIB at Terminal 2F International Arrivals. Officers arrested a Chinese citizen with the initials JZ who had just arrived from Thailand on Thai Lion Air flight SL116.
“During an inspection of his black suitcase, one bottle containing 500 millilitres of etomidate liquid weighing 572.2 grammes was found hidden in a plastic bag,” said Michael.
Michael stated that the investigation revealed JZ was instructed by an individual with the initials HC, who is now a wanted person, to bring etomidate from Thailand to Jakarta.
“As a reward, JZ was promised a payment of 50,000 Yuan, or approximately Rp132.5 million. The evidence is estimated to be worth Rp5.6 billion and could yield around 800 ready-to-distribute vape cartridges,” Michael detailed.
The third case, Michael explained, occurred on 26 February 2026 at around 9.00 pm WIB at Terminal 3 International Arrivals of Soekarno-Hatta Airport. Michael added that officers arrested SP, a Thai citizen who arrived on Thai Airways flight TG435 from Bangkok.
“In the suspect’s black suitcase, seven bottles containing etomidate liquid disguised in everyday product packaging were found. The details are three bottles containing 2,100 millilitres of etomidate and four labelled bottles containing 2,000 millilitres of etomidate. The total evidence reached 4,100 millilitres with a weight of 4,129 grammes. SP was promised a fee of 80,000 Baht, or approximately Rp43.6 million,” Michael explained.
According to Michael, from the three cases, the total etomidate seized reached approximately 8,600 millilitres with an estimated economic value of Rp97.87 billion. “The evidence is estimated to be capable of being processed into nearly 14,000 vape cartridges containing etomidate,” Michael revealed.