Customs officers foil inserter courier and sea-drop smuggling attempt across Batam waters
Batam Customs has successfully intercepted two narcotics smuggling attempts using highly dangerous methods—including body insertion and sea drops—amounting to 1.5 kilograms of methamphetamine and ecstasy.
Inserter Courier Caught After Suspicious Behaviour
The first case involved MM (46), a construction worker from Kediri, who arrived on 29 October 2025 via MV Citra Legacy V from Stulang Laut, Malaysia. Officers noticed his nervous gestures and suspected he was hiding contraband. A K-9 unit signalled strong interest, prompting deeper checks.
MM initially tested positive for drugs and was taken for medical examination at Awal Bros Hospital. X-rays revealed nine latex-wrapped packages concealed in his rectum—236 grams of methamphetamine and 256 ecstasy pills. MM later admitted he had taken methamphetamine three days before the journey.
Failed Escape and Smuggling Motive
Before being taken to hospital, MM attempted to escape but was later captured at Simpang Laluan Madani. He confessed to becoming a courier due to financial pressure and was promised Rp50 million to transport the drugs to Lombok. Records show this was his first attempt, arranged by a contact identified as MT, whom he met in Johor.
Throughout 2025, Batam Customs has recorded three or more inserter cases, signalling a shift from previous methods that relied on thin plastic packaging inside bags. Officials also warned that traffickers may move toward swallowing narcotics—an extremely lethal method if a package ruptures.
Sea-Drifted Bag Linked to Second Smuggling Attempt
In the second case, the Batam Customs Sea Patrol team onboard BC 15029 discovered a floating sling bag near Pulau Sau. Inside were 1.029 kg of crystal meth, packed into nine clear sachets hidden within corsets and plastic layers.
Authorities believe the smugglers threw the bag overboard to evade capture, hoping an accomplice would retrieve it later. This technique aligns with patterns seen in recent maritime smuggling attempts across Riau Islands waters.
Cases Handed to Law Enforcement
The inserter case involving MM has been handed to BNN Kepri, while the one-kilogram sea-drop discovery was transferred to Polda Kepri. Police confirmed the case files are being prepared for submission to the prosecutor’s office, and investigations are ongoing to track MT and other possible accomplices.
MM faces charges under Indonesia’s Narcotics Law (UU 35/2009), which carries penalties ranging from lengthy imprisonment to the death sentence, depending on the severity of involvement.
Preventing Massive Public Harm
Customs Chief Zaky Firmansyah stated the seizures potentially prevented harm to 6,600 people and saved the state an estimated Rp11 billion in rehabilitation costs. He emphasised that traffickers continuously evolve their methods, and authorities must respond with tighter surveillance, robust intelligence, and intensified sea patrols.
Commitment to National Anti-Narcotics Agenda
Zaky reaffirmed that these operations reflect the government’s Astacita Presiden RI mandate, carried out through synergy between Customs, Police, TNI, BNN, Prosecutors, and other enforcement bodies to dismantle narcotics networks across the archipelago.
These back-to-back interceptions highlight Batam’s strategic vulnerability as a transit point and the urgent need for vigilance across maritime and port checkpoints. For communities in Kepri, Batam, and Indonesia at large, the cases underscore the importance of coordinated law enforcement in preventing dangerous narcotics from flooding local markets.
Sources: VOI.ID (2025) , Ulasan.co (2025)
Keywords: Penyelundupan Narkoba Batam, Bea Cukai Batam, Modus Inserting, Methamphetamine Batam, Ekstasi Kepri
