The Lampung Regional Police’s Narcotics Crime Directorate has uncovered a case involving an alleged narcotics crime with 15.7 kilograms of crystal methamphetamine in the Seaport area of Bakauheni Harbor, South Lampung Regency.
In the disclosure, officers secured four suspects with the initials RN, VR, TS, and EC. All four are known to be residents of Tangerang with self-employed backgrounds.
The Director of the Narcotics Crime Directorate explained that the case was uncovered starting from public information regarding the alleged smuggling of narcotics from Sumatra Island to Java Island using an ambulance vehicle.
Following up on this information, the operational team from Sub-directorate 1 monitored a four-wheeled ambulance vehicle suspected of crossing to Java Island.
“During an inspection in the Seaport area of Bakauheni Harbor, officers found a Daihatsu Luxio ambulance with license plate B-1737-CIS passing through. Inside the vehicle, no patient was found, but rather four men in healthy condition,” he stated.
The officers’ suspicions grew stronger after the four individuals showed signs of nervousness during the initial inspection.
Officers then conducted a search in the vehicle’s cabin and found one bag containing 15 packages suspected to be crystal methamphetamine.
“The evidence was found hidden under the rear seat of the ambulance. From the weighing results, the total weight of the seized crystal meth reached 15,739 grams,” he said.
In addition to the methamphetamine, officers also confiscated four Android mobile phone units and one Daihatsu Luxio ambulance vehicle used to transport the drugs.
Based on preliminary investigation results, suspect VR is suspected of acting as the ambulance driver appointed to pick up a patient.
Meanwhile, RN, TS, and EC are suspected of carrying 15 packages of crystal methamphetamine from the Riau-Jambi border area to Tangerang.
“From initial statements, the suspects are said to have received travel money of Rp300 thousand. Furthermore, the three other suspects were also promised wages between Rp10 million and Rp15 million,” he said.
The estimated economic value of the seized evidence is around Rp22.5 billion. From that amount, authorities estimate that approximately 60 thousand people could be saved from narcotics abuse.
For their actions, the suspects are charged under Article 114 paragraph (2) of Law No. 35/2009 on Narcotics in conjunction with relevant provisions in the Criminal Code and penalty adjustments.
They are also charged under Article 132 paragraph (1) of Law Number 35 of 2009 on Narcotics along with other related articles.
“The suspects face the threat of the death penalty, life imprisonment, or a maximum prison sentence of 20 years. Currently, all four suspects have been secured at the Lampung Regional Police Headquarters to undergo further investigation,” he concluded.
Bakauheni Harbor
Bakauheni Harbor is the main ferry port on the southern tip of Sumatra, Indonesia, serving as the critical gateway for the busy sea crossing to Java via the Sunda Strait. Historically, it has long been a vital transport and trade link, with its modern infrastructure developed to handle the immense flow of people and goods between Indonesia’s two most populous islands. Today, it remains one of the nation’s busiest passenger ferry terminals.
Sumatra Island
Sumatra is the sixth-largest island in the world, located in western Indonesia and known for its immense biodiversity, including tropical rainforests that are home to unique wildlife like orangutans, tigers, and rhinos. Historically, it was a key part of the Srivijaya Empire, a dominant maritime and commercial kingdom that flourished from the 7th to the 13th centuries, controlling trade routes in the Malacca Strait. The island’s culture is a rich mosaic of ethnic groups, most notably the Batak, Minangkabau, and Acehnese, each with distinct traditions, architecture, and social structures.
Java Island
Java is Indonesia’s most populous island and the historical, political, and economic heart of the nation. It is renowned for its profound cultural heritage, including the majestic 9th-century Buddhist temple of Borobudur and the Hindu temple complex of Prambanan. The island’s history is marked by powerful Hindu-Buddhist kingdoms, the spread of Islam, and centuries as the center of Dutch colonial administration before becoming the capital region of modern Indonesia.
Tangerang
Tangerang is a city in Indonesia’s Banten province, located on the western outskirts of Jakarta. Historically, it was a significant settlement for Chinese immigrants in the 17th century, earning it the nickname “Benteng” (Fort) and becoming a center for trade and industry. Today, it is a major industrial and manufacturing hub within the Jakarta metropolitan area.
Riau-Jambi border area
The Riau-Jambi border area in central Sumatra is historically significant as the heartland of the ancient **Malay Kingdom of Srivijaya** (7th-13th centuries), a major Buddhist maritime empire that controlled regional trade. Today, the area is characterized by dense forests, peatlands, and rivers, with its archaeological heritage, including potential undiscovered temple sites, still being studied by historians.
Lampung Regional Police Headquarters
The Lampung Regional Police Headquarters is the central command for the Indonesian National Police (Polri) in Lampung Province, Sumatra. It was established as part of the national police structure to maintain security and order in the region following Indonesia’s independence. The headquarters oversees law enforcement across the province’s cities and regencies from its base in the capital, Bandar Lampung.
Seaport area of Bakauheni Harbor
The Bakauheni Harbor seaport area is the primary ferry gateway connecting the islands of Sumatra and Java in Indonesia, located at the southern tip of Lampung province. Historically, it has served as a vital maritime transit point since the colonial era, facilitating the crucial flow of people and goods across the Sunda Strait. Today, it remains a bustling and strategically important hub within Indonesia’s national transportation network.
South Lampung Regency
South Lampung Regency is an administrative region on the southern tip of Sumatra, Indonesia, historically significant as part of the Srivijaya maritime empire. Today, it is known for its coastal landscapes, agriculture, and the iconic Krakatoa volcano located offshore, whose catastrophic 1883 eruption shaped global history. The regency also features cultural sites like the ancient Batu Bedil megalithic complex.
