JAVA, RAKYAT NEWS— In a significant breakthrough, the Sidoarjo Police’s Narcotics Unit successfully intercepted a major drug shipment, seizing 30 kilograms of crystal methamphetamine believed to be part of an international drug network.

East Java Police Chief, Inspector General Imam Sugianto, confirmed on Friday that a suspect, identified as MI, alias Iyek, was arrested in connection with the case. The suspect, a resident of Sampang, was apprehended while driving a pickup truck loaded with the illicit drugs.

“This arrest is the result of an extensive investigation following the capture of a married couple on April 17, 2024, in Bangsri, Sukodono District, Sidoarjo,” Sugianto said

The couple, apprehended earlier this year, provided crucial information about a drug kingpin who frequently smuggled meth from China into Indonesia, distributing it across various regions, including Surabaya, Sidoarjo, and Kalimantan, through maritime routes.

Building on this intelligence, the Sidoarjo Police Narcotics Unit intensified its investigation and uncovered details of a large shipment arriving from China. After a month of surveillance, law enforcement officers tracked down a silver Grandmax pickup truck transporting two wooden crates filled with white crystalline substances, suspected to be meth. The drugs were concealed in Chinese tea packaging, each weighing one kilogram, totaling 30 kilograms.

The dramatic arrest took place on July 22, 2024, at the Sidoarjo toll gate, where MI attempted to flee at high speed. A chase ensued, culminating in his capture near the Pondok Mutiara housing complex. The police successfully recovered the pickup truck and its illegal cargo.

The evidence secured by the police includes the silver Grandmax pickup and two crates containing the methamphetamine, which was packaged in Chinese tea wrappers. Each packet weighed one kilogram, with a total of 30 packages weighing 30 kilograms.

MI faces severe charges under Indonesia’s Narcotics Law No. 35 of 2009, including Article 114(2), Article 112(2), in conjunction with Article 132(1). If convicted, he could face life imprisonment or even the death penalty.

Inspector General Sugianto reaffirmed the East Java Police’s commitment to combating drug trafficking and abuse, emphasizing that this successful operation reflects strong cooperation between various law enforcement agencies in dismantling drug syndicates.

Present at the press conference were key officials, including East Java Narcotics Division Chief, Commissioner Robert Da Costa, East Java Police Public Relations Head, Commissioner Dirmanto, Sidoarjo Police Chief, Commissioner Christian Tobing, Sidoarjo Police Narcotics Unit Chief, Commissioner Rudy Prabowo, and Sidoarjo National Narcotics Agency Head, Commissioner Gatot Soegeng Soesanto.

This operation marks another victory in the ongoing war against drug trafficking in Indonesia, as law enforcement agencies continue to crack down on international drug networks threatening the nation. (Uki Ruknuddin)