South Sulawesi Fishermen Discover 28 Kilograms of Cocaine Floating at Sea off Selayar
Residents of Selayar Islands Regency, South Sulawesi, have again discovered a package floating in the sea containing approximately 1 kilogram of cocaine. The total amount of cocaine discovered floating in those waters stands at 28 kilograms.
“A resident spotted a plastic bundle containing white powder with partially torn packaging. Suspecting its contents, the bundle was brought home and reported to members of Selayar Islands Police Station,” said Selayar Islands Police Chief AKBP Didid Imawan on Sunday, 15 March.
After discovering the cocaine package, residents reported the matter to the Narcotics Investigation Unit of Selayar Police Station for immediate seizure.
“Based on initial testing using a narcotics rapid test kit, the sample from the item was found to contain COC (Cocaine) substance,” he stated.
Meanwhile, Head of Narcotics Investigation Unit at Selayar Islands Police Station AKP Suhardiman said the evidence—a transparent plastic bundle in rectangular form weighing approximately 953.8 grams gross—is currently under investigation.
“We have secured the evidence and conducted preliminary examinations, as well as obtained statements from the resident who discovered the package. Further examinations will be conducted according to procedure,” he said.
Previously, fishermen in Selayar Islands Regency, South Sulawesi, discovered a stack of packages suspected to contain 25 kilograms of cocaine believed to originate from Colombia floating in the ocean.
“Yes, that is correct. The laboratory examination results of the same findings tested with our equipment also tested positive for cocaine,” said Selayar Police Station Public Relations Officer Aipda Suardi Andre.
Andre explained that the cocaine discoveries occurred from 28 February until 9 March. “The discoveries took place over nearly two weeks, with the first on 28 February, then 9 March, and the final handover from the District Military Command to the Police Chief occurring the previous night,” he said.
Andre clarified that local residents discovered three separate packages, which were then handed over to authorities for investigation at two locations: Bontosikuyu Sub-district and Bontomanai Sub-district.
“There were three separate discoveries in total. The first discovery involved 1 package, the second discovery involved 4 packages, and the third discovery saw fishermen hand over 20 packages to Village Development Officers, with some packages already damaged,” he explained.