The Batam Customs and Excise Office displaying 10 sacks containing 236 grammes of sabu ( methamphetamine) and 256 ecstasy pills during a press conference in Batam on Nov 17,2025. - Courtesy of Batams Customs and Excise Office
JAKARTA: The Batam Customs and Excise Office uncovered two new methods to smuggle drugs from Malaysia, with combined evidence of about 1.5 kilograms of drugs, in two separate cases.
Recent operations revealed that drug syndicates have started using body cavities to smuggle drugs. Batam Customs chief, Zaky Firmansyah, said the successful interceptions showed new, more daring smuggling methods.
“We respond to every new pattern with stricter supervision and more intensive patrols. The enforcement shows our commitment to eradicating drug smuggling,” he told a press conference on Monday (Nov 17).
The first interception took place on Oct 29 at the Batam Center International Ferry Terminal, when customs officers arrested a passenger, identified as MM, who was arriving on board MV Citra Legacy 5 boat from the Stulang Laut Ferry Terminal in Johor, Malaysia.
Officers were suspicious of MM after K-9 sniffer dog Oriel paid attention to the suspect. An in-depth search found drugs had been hidden in the suspect’s anal cavity.
Results from abdomen X-ray at a hospital found 10 packages of drugs totalling 236 grams of sabu (methamphetamine) and 256 ecstasy pills.
MM managed to escape before customs officers captured him and he was handed over to the Riau Islands Police’s Narcotics Crimes Directorate.
A customs team onboard the BC 15029 patrol boat also found a bag floating in the waters off Sau Island. Officers believe the bag was intentionally dumped into the sea by the perpetrator to avoid enforcement by the customs patrol.
The bag contained nine sacks of methamphetamine with a total weight of 1.0293 kg. The goods were then handed over to the Riau Islands chapter of the National Narcotics Agency (BNN). In total, customs officers confiscated some 1.5 kg of drugs. - The Jakarta Post/ANN
