Inp.polri.go.id - Tangerang.  Customs officials at Soekarno-Hatta International Airport have foiled an attempt to smuggle crystal methamphetamine concealed in the walls of a suitcase, linked to an African drug trafficking network.

The operation was uncovered after customs officers grew suspicious of a passenger’s luggage during x-ray screening at Terminal 2F on Thursday (24/10/2024).

Customs Head Gatot Sugeng Wibowo confirmed the arrest of a suspect, identified as FP, along with approximately 2,664 grams of methamphetamine.

“The irregularity was detected during a routine scan of a bag belonging to FP, a 43-year-old Indonesian traveler arriving on Batik Air flight OD 0320 from Kuala Lumpur to Jakarta,” he explained, as reported by antaranews.com.

The drugs were hidden in a false compartment within the suitcase.

Further investigation revealed that FP was being directed by a Nigerian national, identified as N, whom she had only communicated with through a dating app.

The confiscated drugs could have impacted around 12,500 individuals, with an estimated rehabilitation cost of Rp 19.98 billion.

FP now faces life imprisonment or the death penalty under the Narcotics Law.

(mg/inp/pr/nm)