Kepri police uncover hidden narcotics lab in Batam’s Tanjung Piayu, arresting two suspects.
Police in Batam have dismantled a clandestine methamphetamine laboratory hidden inside a shrimp farm, seizing over 5.5 kilograms of meth and 556 grams of ecstasy in a major drug bust.
Bust Sparked by Public Report
The operation began with a community tip-off about drug circulation in Kampung Madani, Muka Kuning, on September 14, 2025. Acting on this lead, the Riau Islands Regional Police (Polda Kepri) uncovered a remote house in Kampung Sukadamai, Tanjung Piayu, being used as a mini-lab for meth and ecstasy.
Arrests and Seizures
Two suspects, identified by their initials VO and PST, were arrested, while a third suspect remains at large. From the raid, police confiscated 5.56 kilograms of methamphetamine, 556.3 grams of ecstasy, and 3.9 grams of meth found directly on one suspect.
Modus Operandi of the Syndicate
According to Kepri Police Chief Inspector General Asep Safrudin, the suspects recycled “reject meth” and low-quality ecstasy. Using chemical additives and heating methods with stoves, the drugs were reprocessed and recast to appear as high-grade narcotics. “They had been operating for more than three weeks,” Asep said during a press conference at Kepri Police Headquarters.
Network Beyond Batam
Investigations revealed that production equipment and chemicals were supplied from Pekanbaru by an accomplice identified as AR, who is now on the wanted list. Police are also pursuing M, the shrimp farm’s owner, suspected of ties to other drug networks.
Community’s Role in Crackdown
Asep emphasized that community vigilance played a crucial role in uncovering the operation. He urged continued public support to expose the syndicate’s financiers and distribution channels, stating: “We need community cooperation to dismantle this network down to its roots.”
Broader Implications
The discovery underscores Batam’s vulnerability as a transit and production hub due to its proximity to regional trade routes. Authorities are intensifying surveillance to prevent the city from becoming a stronghold for transnational drug syndicates targeting both Indonesia and neighboring Singapore.
The Batam shrimp farm raid highlights the effectiveness of community-police cooperation in tackling narcotics crimes. With 5.5 kilograms of meth and hundreds of grams of ecstasy seized, the operation not only disrupted a local syndicate but also sent a strong message about Indonesia’s resolve to combat drug production at its source.
Sources: Gokepri (2025) , Batamnews (2025)
Keywords: Batam Drug Lab, Meth Seizure Batam, Kepri Police Raid, Ecstasy Production, Drug Syndicate Indonesia, Asep Safrudin
