inp.polri.go.id - Jakarta. The Makassar City Sub-regional Police Drugs Criminal Investigation Unit, is hunting for a major international drug dealer after uncovering a methamphetamine trafficking ring weighing over seven kilograms involving seven suspects.
Makassar City Police Chief, Senior Commissioner Arya Perdana, stated that one of the fugitives is an Indonesian citizen with the initials PA, who is suspected of operating from Malaysia with a foreign national with the initials AK.
"We have identified AK, a foreign national from Malaysia, and PA, an Indonesian citizen living in Malaysia. This ring is an international network," said Arya on Monday (5/25/2026).
He explained that they are working with Interpol, the Indonesian National Police (INP) Criminal Investigation Unit, and the South Sulawesi Regional Police Drugs Criminal Investigation Directorate to track down the perpetrators who are still in Malaysia.
Of the seven suspects arrested, six acted as dealers and one as a courier. This network is suspected to be connected between cities, including Jakarta, Makassar, and Pekanbaru, Riau, and is linked to a Malaysian network.
Arya stated that the meth smuggling was carried out via air transportation, by hiding it on the courier's body while passing through the airport.
"The method is to hide the meth on the body and transport it through the airport. We continue to tighten surveillance to prevent further drug trafficking, both in and out," said Arya.
He also revealed that the entry route for narcotics from Malaysia to Indonesia often utilizes unofficial sea routes through small ports or "rat ports" scattered throughout the archipelago.
He also revealed that narcotics entering Indonesia from Malaysia often utilize unofficial sea routes through small ports or "rat ports" scattered throughout the archipelago.
According to the Police Chief, Indonesia's geographical location, with its thousands of islands, presents a challenge in monitoring narcotics smuggling routes.
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