The First Fleet Quick Response (FFQR) team from the Tanjung Balai Asahan Navy base in North Sumatra says it foiled an attempt to smuggle 5.3 kilograms of crystal methamphetamine into the country on a motor boat on the Asahan River.

North Sumatra Police spokesperson Sr. Comr. Tatan Dirsan Atmaja said Monday that the shipment was believed to have come from Malaysia, adding that the Navy had yet to hand the case over to the police.

Rear Admiral Yudo Margono of the Navy said the smuggling attempt had been foiled thanks to a tip-off from locals. The FFQR team followed up the information by patrolling the sea, where they spotted a suspicious boat entering the river on Sunday. The boat headed to the mangrove forests, and the team spotted a person running to the mangrove forest. They chased the person but could not find him.

The boat was reportedly leaking, so the Navy managed to bring it to a post to be searched. They found five brown packages containing the crystal meth, Yudo said. (evi)