Two Women Arrested for Smuggling Methamphetamine into Semarang District Court Using Handshake Ploy

An attempt to smuggle methamphetamine into the Semarang Detention Centre was foiled by prisoner escort officers at the Semarang District Court in Central Java. Two women, identified by the initials DL and DA, were arrested after they were caught passing methamphetamine to a defendant following a court hearing using a handshake ploy.

Based on monitoring on Wednesday (19/8), the two perpetrators, who are the wife and sister of a drug case detainee identified as F, are now being held at the Semarang Police headquarters. The reckless act was carried out after the hearing of defendant Mohamad Adi Trisugiarto (MAT) on Tuesday (18/8).

Semarang District Court spokesperson Hadi Sunoto confirmed that the arrest caused a stir within the court premises. The incident began when escort officers became suspicious of DA’s movements as she approached defendant MAT and shook his hand very firmly.

“Officers were suspicious of the unusually firm handshake. Upon inspection, a small item wrapped in plastic containing methamphetamine was found, which had been slipped during the handshake,” said Hadi Sunoto.

In addition to DA, officers also detained DL, who was present at the scene. The two are suspected of working together to deliver the illicit substance to F, who is currently incarcerated at the Semarang Detention Centre.

Head of the Narcotics Unit at Semarang Police, Senior Commissioner Hankie Fuariputra, stated that both women have been named as suspects. Officers seized 0.5 grams of methamphetamine from the perpetrators.

“This arrest was thanks to the keen observation of the prisoner escort officers. The two suspects, namely the wife and sister of detainee F, acted as intermediaries to bring narcotics into the detention centre,” explained Hankie on Wednesday (19/8).

For their actions, DL and DA are charged under the Narcotics Law. Both face a maximum prison sentence of 20 years.