Tangerang City Police bust synthetic drug network using chicken package ruse

Tangerang City Police have dismantled a cross-regional synthetic narcotics network operating through social media. Four suspects identified as MS, SFA, MK, and GPA were apprehended with over a kilogram of synthetic tobacco seized. Police Commissioner Andi Muhammad Indra Waspada Amirullah stated the network operated in Tangerang Regency, South Jakarta, and South Tangerang. The operation began on 10 February with the arrest of MS in Sepatan Timur, Tangerang Regency, where 155.88 grams of synthetic tobacco was seized. Further investigation via mobile phone revealed a 100-gram synthetic paste transaction. A controlled delivery operation was conducted to track the package to recipients in South Jakarta, leading to the arrest of additional suspects in Cipulir and Pondok Aren. Authorities also discovered production indicators; in Cipulir, 2,330 grams of synthetic tobacco, alcohol, chloroform, electronic scales, and measuring cylinders were seized. The operation concluded at a rental house in Pondok Aren, South Tangerang, where GPA was arrested with 1,101 grams of solid synthetic tobacco and 15 millilitres of spray-type liquid narcotics. The suspects face severe penalties under Article 114(2) read in conjunction with Article 132(1) of Law No. 35 of 2009 on Narcotics, and Article 609(2) of Law No. 1 of 2023 on the Indonesian Criminal Code (KUHP).