inp.polri.go.id – Bengkalis. The Sub-Directorate I Team of the Drug Investigation Directorate of Riau Police succeeded in uncovering an international drug network syndicate from Malaysia. The three perpetrators were arrested along with 19 kilograms of crystal methamphetamine. The perpetrators were arrested in the Tanjung Medang Rupat area, with each of them have the initials of IRW (21), JEP (46) and MUH (20), each resident of Bengkalis Regency, Thursday (7/28). This case was revealed after receiving information from the public that there would be smuggling of methamphetamine from Malaysia to the Rupat Bengkalis area by sea. The team, led by Police Commissioner Hotmartua Ambarita, immediately moved to investigate the whereabouts of the perpetrators in the field. "The perpetrators picked up methamphetamine directly from Malaysia using a speedboat," said Head of Public Relations of the Riau Police, Commissioner Sunarto, Thursday (28/7/2022). The perpetrator then arrived in the Rupat Bengkalis area, along with a luggage of methamphetamine. Even though they managed to escaped for awhile, one of the perpetrators, Along was caught. Based on Along's description, the Head of Public Relations of the Riau Police said the team managed to reconstruct the scenario of the smuggling of 19 kilograms of methamphetamine from Malaysia to Rupat, Bengkalis, Indonesia. "This methamphetamine was divided into two by the perpetrators," said the Head of Public Relations of the Riau Police. Initially, Along received an offer from his partner YET (still in pursuit), to pick up methamphetamine from Malaysia to be redistributed in Indonesia, Rupat, Bengkalis. Arriving at the methamphetamine pick-up location, the perpetrator moved quickly to sail back using a speedboat to Indonesian waters with the luggage. "Arriving in Malaysia, Along brought the methamphetamine which was stored in a large bag, together with YET, on a speedboat to Indonesian waters," said the Head of Public Relations of the Riau Police. Meanwhile, upon arrival in the Indonesian waters, Along handed over 5 large bags of the illegal goods to the JEP to be smuggled to North Rupat. The remaining 9 large bags of methamphetamine are still in Along's hands, who is planning to be smuggled to the Pahat area. However, the plan suddenly changed course. "The rest of the 9 large bags returned to Rupat, after the change of plans. The methamphetamine was handed over to another perpetrator, namely MUH," said the Head of Public Relations of the Riau Police. "After Along's arrest, the team immediately hunted down JEP and found 5 large packs of methamphetamine at his home. Then based on Along’s statement, the remaining 9 large packs of the drugs were handed over to MUH, who he ordered hid it in a durian garden covered with grass," said the Head of Public Relations of the Riau Police. After uncovering the case, the Riau Police, assisted by a local joint team and other related parties, brought the perpetrators and evidence for investigation. "The methamphetamine, in total, was weighed up to 19 kilograms," concluded the Head of Public Relations of the Riau Police, Police Commissioner Sunarto.