Antara News·Indonesia·Tuesday, October 27, 2026 at 09:57 AM UTC

Riau police seize 35 kg of methamphetamine from Malaysian network

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Bayu Agustari/Annisa Firdausi, Resinta S

Pekanbaru, Riau (ANTARA) - The Riau Regional Police's Narcotics and Illegal Drugs Directorate seized 35 kilograms of methamphetamine linked to an international drug network operating from Malaysia, arresting five suspects in a series of raids in Riau and West Sumatra provinces.

"The discovery was made during Operation Sarang Narkoba after the team received information about a planned large-scale methamphetamine smuggling operation through the waters off Bantan, Bengkalis," Director of the Riau Regional Police's Narcotics Investigation Directorate Senior Commissioner Putu Yudha Prawira said on Tuesday.

He said officers initially arrested two suspects, identified by the initials MZH and WA, on Wednesday (October 21).

A search of the suspects' vehicles uncovered 35 large packages of methamphetamine weighing a total of 35 kilograms, along with other evidence.

The investigation was subsequently expanded to several locations. Officers arrested a suspect identified as S in Kampar District and later apprehended another suspect, identified as JA, in Pekanbaru City on the same day.

Prawira said the investigation continued in West Sumatra Province on Friday (October 23), when officers arrested a suspect identified as S in Payakumbuh. The suspect was allegedly responsible for controlling the distribution of the drugs from the coastal area to land-based couriers.

"Investigators found that the suspect admitted to being controlled by a handler in Malaysia," he said.

In addition to the 35 kilograms of methamphetamine and another 7.4 grams of the drug, police seized four mobile phones, one motorcycle, two cars, and one tablet computer.

"We are still investigating the person who collected the narcotics for delivery to Malaysia, and we have placed him on the wanted list," Prawira said.

Riau Regional Police Chief Inspector General Arman Achdiat warned that transnational drug syndicates were using Riau as a transit point for narcotics smuggled from Malaysia and distributed to other areas.

He said narcotics smuggled through Riau's eastern coastal areas, including Dumai, Rupat Island, and Bengkalis, were intended for distribution to several regions, including Riau, Medan, and South Sumatra.

Alongside law enforcement operations, the police are also preparing measures to mitigate and prevent drug abuse. These include establishing a special task force targeting school environments to protect young people from the threat of narcotics abuse.

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