The suspect, identified only as MT, was apprehended following the seizure of 50 grams of crystal meth in the West Java police's jurisdiction, according to Director of the West Java Police’s Narcotics Investigation Division, Sen. Coms. Albert RD.
Speaking to journalists in Bandung, West Java, Albert said MT had advanced skills in processing chemical substances into type-1 drugs. He arrived in Indonesia on July 5, 2025, and rented a house in Meruya to use as his clandestine drug lab.
During a recent raid on the rented house, police found 123 liters of liquid meth. Albert explained that one liter of liquid meth could be crystallized into at least one kilogram of grade A crystal meth.
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“One liter of liquid meth can be processed into one kilogram up to four kilograms of crystal meth, depending on the grade,” he said.
Thus, the 123 liters of liquid meth seized from MT’s lab could potentially yield at least 123 kilograms of grade A crystal meth, he added.
Police suspect MT may be linked to the Golden Crescent drug ring.
MT has been charged under Articles 114(2), 132(1), 113(2), and 112(2) of Indonesia’s Narcotics Law No. 35/2009, which carries penalties of death or life imprisonment and a fine of up to Rp10 billion. Indonesia continues to be a prime target for international drug syndicates due to its large population and growing number of drug users.
According to the National Narcotics Agency (BNN), Indonesia has 3.3 million drug addicts, while the economic cost of drug smuggling is estimated at Rp500 trillion.
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Translator: Rubby JP, Rahmad Nasution
Editor: M Razi Rahman
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