Malaysian national arrested at Indonesian airport with $185,000 worth of drugs

Authorities at Juanda Airport in Surabaya, East Java, have arrested a 22-year-old Malaysian national, identified by the initials DI, for attempting to smuggle a significant quantity of narcotics. The arrest was a collaborative effort involving multiple agencies, including the Juanda Naval Base, Airport Security Task Force, Customs and Excise, Angkasa Pura, Immigration, and others. The operation began when the Customs and Excise investigation team received information about a Batik Air passenger suspected of carrying drugs on flight OD.352 from Kuala Lumpur to Surabaya. Upon the flight's arrival, security personnel monitored and intercepted the suspect. During a secondary inspection, officers discovered narcotics, specifically methamphetamine and ecstasy pills, concealed on DI's body using a corset or body wrap. Novi Manunggal, Commander of the Airport Security Task Force, stated that the seized items included four packages of methamphetamine totaling 990 grams and 1,089 ecstasy pills. The estimated value of these drugs is Rp2.79 billion (approximately $185,000 USD), with authorities claiming they could have potentially saved 6,584 lives if distributed. In a separate incident on Sunday, August 2, officers intercepted a cargo package destined for Ternate, North Maluku, which was flagged due to discrepancies between its physical appearance and shipping documents. An inspection revealed two plastic bags containing 188 grams of methamphetamine, valued at around Rp300 million ($20,000 USD), potentially saving 376 lives. All evidence and suspects from both cases have been handed over to the Sidoarjo Police for further legal proceedings. Manunggal emphasized the commitment to strengthening surveillance and inter-agency coordination to prevent drug smuggling via air routes.

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Our information was received around 09:50 AM Western Indonesian Time. After that, we immediately coordinated with all security elements to conduct monitoring and roadblocks at several points.