T

he police, Customs and Excise Office and the National Narcotics Agency (BNN) in Riau Islands have confirmed that nearly 5.5 kilograms of crystal methamphetamine - locally known as shabu-shabu - detected by customs officers at Hang Nadim Airport in Batam on March 25, originated from Singapore.

 It is the first such drug-related case to come from Singapore, which is considered very strict in monitoring drug trafficking, both in and out of the city state.

Police have so far only managed to arrest a courier involved in the case.

Riau Islands Police chief Brig. Gen. Yotje Mende told the media on Monday that the provincial police, through the National Police headquarters, had informed the Singapore Central Narcotics Bureau and Internal Security Department for further investigations to take place there.

The Malaysian Police have also been alerted, as the drug was produced in Malaysia and involved a number of Malaysians.

“I’m proud of the drug bust because we were able to prevent the contraband from entering the country through Batam, despite the fact that the consignment had slipped through Malaysia and Singapore,” said Yotje.

Yotje added that based on the controlled delivery technique, the contraband was traced from a Malaysian citizen, identified as P, who sent the drugs to Singapore by air through the BBE Express Pte. Ltd. courier service company.

From Changi International Airport, the drugs were sent through a series of courier services. First it was sent to Batam by BBE Express to PT Sehati, then to PT Ascofi in Jakarta, which sent the package to PT Jhon Express in Jakarta.

The package was then sent to PT Berlian Ekspress and finally to CV Surya Jasa in Tanjung Priok, North Jakarta.

Police officers, disguised as workers at the final courier service, were able to detect the courier who accepted the contraband.

“We became aware of the consignment method by using the delivery technique, in which the contraband was sent through a series of courier services without involving people. We found the suspect at the final destination,” said Yotje.

Police arrested Ramond, 27, a courier picking up the drugs, at CV Surya Jasa on March 27. Raymond admitted that he was given Rp 1 million (US$102) by A, a Malaysian citizen, to fetch the package, but authorities caught him at the courier service office.

“There were two couriers, but the other one escaped. The owner of the contraband had already been detected in Jakarta but he also fled,” said Yotje.

He said the street value of the drugs was estimated at Rp 8.2 billion.

Separately, the Batam Customs and Excise Office intelligence section chief Salamo Vino said the drug arrived in Batam on March 24 by sea from Singapore, using a green route for industrial activity.

“Cargo using the green route is inspected through random checks. The green route is available in Batam because it is a Free Trade Zone,” he said.

Salomo added his office requested courier service companies to be alert to drug shipments.