B

atam customs officers apprehended Malaysian citizen Ng Peng Chong for allegedly attempting to smuggle 3.1 kilograms of crystal methamphetamine through Batam Center Port, Riau Islands, on Sunday.

Batam customs spokesman Susila Brata told The Jakarta Post that Chong, who departed from Stulang Laut Port in Malaysia on the MV Indomas I ferry, appeared reluctant to pass through the X-ray machine at the port.

“Finding his demeanor suspicious, the officers searched him and found several packages of white crystal powder wrapped around his waist,” he said.

Susila said customs officers were still investigating Chong and would take him to the hospital to determine whether he had any drugs inside his body. Customs will hand over the case to the police after the probe, he added.

Many narcotics producers from Malaysia, especially crystal methamphetamine producers, sell their drugs to Indonesia through border areas like Batam, Bintan and Karimun in Riau Islands.