The Batam Police Narcotics Unit said the four suspects, identified as ES, M, E, and ABS, belong to the same trafficking network.
“The meth was intended for distribution in Batam city and was brought in by boat operators from abroad,” said Batam, Rempang, Galang (Barelang) Police Chief Senior Commissioner Zaenal Arifin.
Zaenal estimated the seizure could potentially prevent drug abuse affecting more than 56,000 people.
In addition to the meth bust, police also confiscated 859 grams of marijuana in October, arresting three suspects — AFA, RA, and HW — at different locations across Batam, including Batu Ampar, Nongsa, and Sungai Beduk.
Zaenal reaffirmed the police’s firm commitment to combating drug trafficking in Batam.
“There is no room for narcotics criminals here. We will act decisively against anyone involved in drug abuse or trafficking,” he said.
The suspects face charges under Articles 114(1) and/or 111(1) of Indonesia’s Narcotics Law No. 35 of 2009, which carry penalties of life imprisonment or the death sentence.
Separately, Narcotics Unit Chief Commissioner Deni Langie said the investigation is ongoing, with police pursuing boat operators who smuggled the drugs from Malaysia.
“The suspects we arrested handled sales and storage, while the boss ordered the shipment from Malaysia. We are still chasing the boat operators who picked up the drugs there,” Deni said.
Located near Malaysia and Singapore, the Riau Islands have long served as a strategic transit point in regional smuggling routes.
Despite Indonesia’s strict drug laws, which include life imprisonment or the death penalty for trafficking, the country remains vulnerable to both domestic and international drug networks.
Indonesia’s drug market is valued at an estimated $4.3 billion, with 3.4 million users nationwide, according to the National Narcotics Agency.
On August 3, a 21-year-old Ukrainian woman, Kateryna Vakarova, was arrested in Bali for allegedly smuggling nearly two kilograms of synthetic drugs. She was stopped by customs officers at Ngurah Rai International Airport after arriving from Poland.
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Translator: Laily R, Rahmad Nasution
Editor: Azis Kurmala
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