Police Crack Down on International Drug Ring Linking Indonesia and Malaysia
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- Makassar Police uncovered an international meth trafficking network linked to Malaysia after seizing a total of 7.45 kilograms of drugs and arresting seven suspects.
- Two key fugitives, an Indonesian national and a foreign citizen believed to be based in Malaysia, are being hunted with support from Interpol and national narcotics units.
- The syndicate used air, land, and illegal sea routes connecting Batam, Pekanbaru, Jakarta, and Makassar, highlighting persistent security challenges across Indonesia’s vast archipelagic borders.
Jakarta – Makassar police are intensifying efforts to track down a suspected drug kingpin believed to be operating from Malaysia, following the exposure of an international narcotics network responsible for distributing more than 7 kilograms of methamphetamine across Indonesia.
Makassar Police Chief Sr. Comr. Arya Perdana confirmed on Sunday that one of the key fugitives, identified as PA, is an Indonesian national currently residing in Malaysia. He is believed to be working alongside a foreign accomplice, identified as AK, who is also based in Malaysia.
“Both suspects, PA and AK, are part of an international network. Their identities have been established, and they are now on our wanted list,” Arya said.
Authorities have launched a coordinated manhunt involving Interpol, the National Police’s Criminal Investigation Department (Bareskrim), and the South Sulawesi Police’s narcotics unit to locate and apprehend the suspects abroad.
Of the seven individuals already arrested, six are alleged to have acted as distributors, while one served as a courier. Investigators revealed that the network operated across several major Indonesian cities, including Jakarta, Makassar, and Pekanbaru, with supply routes linked directly to Malaysia.
According to Arya, the smuggling operation relied heavily on air transportation, with couriers concealing methamphetamine on their bodies while passing through airport security.
“The drugs were hidden on the body and transported via airports. We are tightening surveillance to prevent further trafficking activities,” he stated.
Authorities also highlighted that maritime routes remain a significant vulnerability, with traffickers frequently exploiting unofficial ports—often referred to as “rat ports”—scattered across Indonesia’s vast archipelago.
Indonesia’s geographic complexity, consisting of thousands of islands, continues to pose challenges for law enforcement in monitoring illegal entry points used by transnational drug syndicates.
Earlier investigations between April 24 and May 9, 2026, led to the confiscation of 1.45 kilograms of methamphetamine, valued at approximately Rp 2.75 billion. The drugs were transported via air routes from Batam to Makassar.
Subsequent operations from January to May 2026 uncovered an interprovincial trafficking network involving routes from Pekanbaru to Makassar using both land and sea transportation. Authorities seized over 6 kilograms of methamphetamine during this phase, with an estimated street value exceeding Rp 12.1 billion.
In total, law enforcement agencies have confiscated approximately 7.45 kilograms of methamphetamine, valued at around Rp 14.85 billion, throughout the ongoing investigation.
Police believe the narcotics were supplied from Malaysia by both Indonesian and foreign nationals who remain at large.
Indonesianpost.com | Antara
