Foreign Nationals Arrested At Soekarno-hatta For Drug Smuggling

Tangerang, Banten (ANTARA) - The Soekarno-Hatta Customs and Excise Main Service Office (KPUBC TMP) C in Tangerang, Banten, has intercepted an attempted smuggling of methamphetamine, MDMA, ketamine, and etomidate through Indonesia's largest airport.

"The narcotics were smuggled by three foreign nationals and three Indonesian citizens who we apprehended at Terminal 2 of Soekarno-Hatta International Airport. The arrests took place between January and February 2026," Head of the Soekarno-Hatta Customs and Excise Office, Hengky Tomuan Parlindungan Aritonang, announced on Wednesday (March 11).

The case was uncovered across four separate incidents. The first arrest involved a foreign national with the initials KH (33), who arrived on a flight from Amsterdam via Dubai on January 12, 2026.

"The passenger acted as a courier, using a 'false concealment' method by hiding 5,061 grams of ketamine inside instant drink packaging," Aritonang remarked.

The second operation targeted three Indonesian citizens: two women, ES (40) and M (46), and a man, AP (19). Acting as couriers, they hid narcotics between their clothes and inside their luggage. The trio arrived on a flight from Batam to Jakarta on January 22, 2026, carrying 3,094 grams of methamphetamine.

In the third incident, authorities arrested a 25-year-old foreign national with the initials LKY, who arrived from Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, on January 30, 2026. The suspect was found carrying 1,066 grams of MDMA and 433 grams of ketamine, again disguised in instant drink packaging.

"Meanwhile, the fourth action was taken against a foreign national woman with the initials SP," Aritonang said. "The perpetrator arrived from Thailand and used soap and coconut oil packaging to conceal 3,600 grams of etomidate."

The perpetrators have been charged under Law Number 35 of 2009 concerning Narcotics, which carries a maximum penalty of death or life imprisonment, as well as Law Number 36 of 2009 concerning Health.

"All perpetrators and evidence have been handed over to the Soekarno-Hatta Airport Police for further investigation," he stated.

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Translator: Azmi Syamsul, Resinta Sulistiyandari
Editor: Arie Novarina
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