The suspect, only identified as OT, was arrested before boarding an aircraft for Surabaya, East Java, which was en route to Lombok, on July 21, the customs office head for enforcement and investigation, Muhtadi, remarked.
Before entering the departure terminal for boarding, OT was required to pass through the airport's body scanner, Muhtadi told journalists in Batam on Friday.
The customs officers became suspicious after noticing OT's abnormal walking and signs of anxiety. Their suspicions were confirmed after he passed through the airport's body scanner, he said.
Following this, officers conducted a body search that uncovered the crystal meth package concealed in OT's rectum, he stated, adding that he was working for a man, identified as PL, to deliver the package to Lombok.
According to OT, he met PL at a nightclub in Tanjung Balai Karimun, the capital of Karimun District, Riau Islands Province. PL promised to pay OT Rp5 million for each package of meth he successfully delivered.
"PL also paid for OT's flight tickets and hotel expenses," Muhtadi added.
Previously reported efforts to prevent traffickers from using airports and commercial aircraft to transport drugs include strengthened cooperation between the National Narcotics Agency (BNN) and state-owned air navigation firm AirNav Indonesia.
The collaboration was formalized by signing a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on drug prevention and law enforcement on June 24, 2025. Similar MoUs were inked with BNN and AirNav Indonesia offices across all 34 provinces, demonstrating their shared commitment to combating narcotics.
According to BNN chief commissioner General Marthinus Hukom, the collaboration is timely, given the recent rise in cases involving drug couriers boarding commercial flights with illicit packages.
Translator: Laily R, Rahmad Nasution
Editor: Aditya Eko Sigit Wicaksono
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