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🇮🇩 Indonesia /Crime & Justice

Two Chinese nationals caught with 9 boxes of psychotropics entering Indonesia

From Tempo · () Indonesian

Translated from Indonesian, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Official statement Under investigation
  • Indonesian police arrested two Chinese nationals at Soekarno-Hatta International Airport carrying 3.3 kilograms of psychotropic substances disguised in beverage packaging.
  • The suspects, Zou Lihua and Zhang Shijie, were apprehended after a flight from Malaysia.
  • Authorities are investigating to identify the network's controllers and financial channels.

Indonesian authorities have apprehended two Chinese nationals at Soekarno-Hatta International Airport in Tangerang, Banten, who were found carrying a significant quantity of psychotropic substances. The suspects, identified as Zou Lihua and Zhang Shijie, were arrested after arriving on a flight from Malaysia.

The two Zou Lihua and Zhang Shijie.

— Eko Hadi Santosoidentifying the arrested Chinese nationals

According to Brig. Gen. Eko Hadi Santoso, Director of Narcotics Crimes at the National Police's Criminal Investigation Agency (Bareskrim), the pair was carrying nine small boxes of beverage-style packaging that contained 3.3 kilograms of potent psychotropic drugs. The arrest took place on Thursday, July 9, 2026.

Zou Lihua reportedly confessed to meeting an individual named Yining through a Telegram group, who promised her $500 to transport the package. She flew from Chongqing, China, to Malaysia, where she picked up the illicit items from a pre-arranged location in an apartment basement. The person who handed over the goods reportedly wore a hat and mask and did not exit their vehicle. After collecting the psychotropics, Zou invited her friend Zhang Shijie to accompany her to Indonesia, where a pre-arranged pickup was planned.

I got a promise of a reward of US$500 to deliver the goods.

— Zou Lihuaexplaining her motivation for carrying the psychotropic substances

However, the two were apprehended by police before they could leave the airport premises. Zhang Shijie claimed he was unaware of the contents Zou was carrying. He stated he knew Zou from when he was opening a restaurant in Cambodia, and they had communicated via WeChat for over six months. Zhang claimed Zou invited him to Indonesia for a vacation and provided him with a free ticket.

The person who picked up wore a hat and mask, had short hair, and did not get out of the vehicle.

— Zou Lihuadescribing the person who handed over the drugs in Malaysia

Bareskrim is currently expanding its investigation to identify the masterminds behind the operation and the individuals who issued the orders. The probe also aims to trace the financial flows of the drug network.

I don't know the goods that Zou Lihua carried.

— Zhang Shijieclaiming ignorance about the contents of the package
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Tempo in Indonesian. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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