A customs and excise office, marines and Lhokseumawe Police team thwarted an attempt to smuggle 25 kilograms of crystal methamphetamine into Aceh from Malaysia on Aug. 21.

Four people were apprehended, namely NK, 50, AI, 38, and N, 28, from North Aceh as well as SA, 44, from Langsa, Aceh.

Lhokseumawe Police chief Sr. Adj. Comr. Ari Lasta Irawan said the perpetrators attempted to conceal the crystal methamphetamine inside a 59-ton shipment of shallots from Malaysia that was being shipped via Tanah Jambo Aye, North Aceh. 

Ari also said the smuggling attempt presumably involved an international crime organization, considering that the amount of crystal meth was dozens of kilograms.

“Judging from the package, we can see that the drugs were imported from China and picked up in Malaysia. Upon searching the suspects, the police confiscated passports, foreign currency and rupiah. 

“We will increase the frequency of our patrols in Aceh’s waters so that we can detect all incoming goods,” he said. (dpk)