JAKARTA: Authorities in Batam have foiled several attempts to smuggle various contraband items, including lobster larvae, a Beretta handgun and drugs, in the past two months in separate operations.
Detectives from Riau Islands Police’ Special Crimes Investigation (Reskrimsus) Directorate prevented the smuggling of some 100,000 lobster larvae worth some Rp 10 billion (US$565,000) from Jakarta.
The larvae were going to be shipped to Singapore and eventually on to Vietnam.
Two perpetrators, identified only as SS and DS, were arrested in the Mega Legenda 2 commercial area in Batam in the morning of May 20.
Riau Islands Police chief spokeswoman Sr. Comr. Nona Pricillia Ohei said the suspects had different roles in the syndicate.
SS was the courier fetching the smuggled goods while DS was the coordinator who ordered four suitcases containing the larvae to be picked up.
“The perpetrators’ modus operandi was camouflaging lobster larvae inside the suitcases, which were packaged using cardboard,” she told a press conference on May 20.
“To deceive officers and X-ray scanning, the packages were layered with used clothes.”
Initial investigation revealed that SS received Rp 10 million to pick up the suitcases while DS was promised Rp 40 million.
Riau Islands Reskrimsus director Sr. Comr. Silvester Mangombo Marusha Simamora said the case began with intelligence information on lobster larvae shipments from Jakarta to Batam by air on Wednesday (May 20) morning.
Detectives from Reskrimsus Directorate’s sub-directorate I, which investigates trade and industry cases, immediately coordinated with officers from the Batam Animal, Fish and Plants Quarantine Agency and Batam Customs and Excise Office to monitor the operation.
“The team followed a vehicle carrying the suitcases from Hang Nadim International Airport to the Mega Legenda area at 7am,” Silvester said.
“About one hour later, officers intercepted the vehicle and conducted a search.” Officers found seven cardboard boxes, of which four contained lobster larvae, which were ready for export. The remaining boxes contained used clothes and were used as camouflage.
Detectives were still investigating the case to reveal the actors behind the smuggling
The police also said they could not yet identify the types of confiscated lobster larvae because they were still too small
Taxonomy identification could only be carried out after a registration and verification process together with the quarantine agency.
Both suspects have been charged with violating Article 88 of Law No. 21/2019 on animal, fish and plant quarantine. They face a two-year prison term and a maximum fine of Rp 2 billion.
More smugglings of an Italian-made Beretta handgun at Bintang 99 Port in Batam. The firearm was found inside the luggage of a passenger who planned to travel to Jakarta. The firearm was detected when customs officers carried out routine inspection at the port on April 9.
The officers were suspicious after the X-ray machine detected the outline of a firearm inside a passenger’s luggage. Following a physical search, officers found a Beretta handgun with the serial number BER0803.
To follow up the finding, a joint team then investigated further, including conducting a urine test on the passenger.
Laboratory results showed the passenger had consumed amphetamine and methamphetamine drugs. The case has been handed over to the Batam, Rempang and Galang (Barelang) Police. In total, Batam Customs and Excise Office prevented at least four smuggling attempts, including the one involving the handgun in April.
On April 7, officers patrolling on board customs patrol boat BC 11001 prevented the smuggling of 495,650 cigarettes without excise stamps in Tanjung Suh waters
The smugglers escaped using a high-speed craft and tossed the goods into the sea. The evidence is being stored at Tanjung Uncang Port.
Customs officers detained a passenger from the MV Ocean Dragon 6 from Stulang Laut, Johor, Malaysia for carrying 300 vape cartridges containing etomidate. The liquid drugs were wrapped around the passenger’s body.
Another attempt to smuggle liquid drugs was foiled on April 12 when customs officers intercepted a passenger from Pasir Gudang, Johor, Malaysia. The passenger was found with 1,000 vape cartridges containing etomidate hidden in a cooking pot and cardboard boxes.
Both drug cases were handed over to Barelang Police. Batam Customs and Excise Office head Agung Widodo said supervision at passenger terminals would not be successful without inter-agency coordination.
“Batam Customs and Excise Office does not work alone. Strong synergy with the police, National Narcotics Agency [BNN] and all law enforcement agencies, as well as the public is the key to this success,” he said in a written statement on May 18.
The case involving the Beretta handgun was considered the most serious, as it involved a firearm and drugs at the same time. This combination triggered concerns among law enforcement agencies as to the potential for more organized trans-national crimes.
The police are still investigating the weapon’s origin while Barelang Police chief Sr. Comr. Anggoro Wicaksono has yet to comment on the case. - The Jakarta Post/ANN
