T

he Tanjungbalai Police in Teluk Nibung district have shot to death two suspected drug couriers, one of whom was a Malaysian who had allegedly smuggled 15 kilograms of crystal methamphetamine from his country.

Tanjungbalai Police chief Adj. Sr. Comr. Irfan Rifai said the two — a 35-year-old man identified as Z from Trengganu, Malaysia, and a 40-year-old Indonesian identified as R from North Tanjungbalai district — were killed because they tried to escape following their arrest.

“We have informed the Malaysian consulate general in Medan of the death of Z,” Irfan told reporters.

Irfan said the smuggling attempt was uncovered when the police received information about a number of men carrying crystal meth from Malaysia through an illegal seaport in Beting Kuala Kapias subdistrict, Teluk Nibung.

An investigation revealed that Z had received a package of crystal meth from a man with the initials PL in Malaysia on Tuesday. The following day, together with two friends referred to as UD and AG, they sailed from Malaysia to Tanjungbalai by boat.

On Wednesday, at 3:30 a.m., they arrived in Beting Kuala Kapias where R was already waiting. Z and R were heading to Teluk Nibung on two separate motorcycles with bags allegedly containing the crystal meth packages when the police arrested them.

Police claim the escape attempt occurred when the officers took the two men to a street in Datuk Bandar district to follow up on a lead the suspects had given them. Irfan said the police fired three warning shots but the two ignored them and then the police shot them. Both died on their way to a hospital.

Previously, a team consisting of officers from both the National Narcotics Agency (BNN) and the customs and excise office foiled the smuggling of 73 kg of crystal meth and 10,000 ecstasy pills on board a vessel called the KM Karibia in Lhoksukon waters, North Aceh, early Tuesday morning.

The smuggling allegedly involved five relatives, namely Ramli bin Arbi, Saiful Bahri, Muhammad Zubir, Muhammad Zakir and Metaliana.

BNN eradication deputy Insp. Gen. Arman Depari claimed the drugs were ordered by Ramli bin Arbi, a Thai citizen incarcerated in the Tanjung Gusta correctional facility in Medan.

Ramli allegedly controlled the smuggling from behind bars using his foreign networks. Police claim the drugs were delivered at sea, allegedly received by Ramli’s son-in-law Muhammad Zubir on board the KM Karibia in the company of Saiful Bahri and Muhammad Zakir.

“The three were arrested after receiving the drugs in the middle of the sea bordering Malaysia,” said Arman, adding that further investigations led to the arrest of Ramli in Tanjung Gusta and Muhammad Zubir’s wife Metaliana.

Arman said Indonesia remained an illegal drug destination for international syndicates. “Malaka Strait waters, including the waters along the eastern coast of Sumatra, have been frequently used to conduct transactions in the middle of the sea using a ship-to-ship system,” Arman said.