A joint operation by the Directorate General of Customs and Excise and the Indonesian National Police (Polri) has foiled an attempt to smuggle 325 kilograms of methamphetamine in the Blang Mangat area of Lhokseumawe City, Aceh Province. During the operation, authorities arrested two suspected couriers involved in the smuggling network.
Vicky Fadian, Head of the Internal Compliance and Public Outreach Section at Lhokseumawe Customs, confirmed the arrests. The operation was the result of close coordination between Lhokseumawe Customs, the Aceh Regional Office of the Directorate General of Customs and Excise (DJBC), the BC 15031 Patrol Vessel Task Force, and Task Force NOC Team I of the National Police Headquarters.
“The two suspects arrested are identified by the initials Z, who is believed to have acted as the land courier, and J, who is suspected of serving as the sea courier. Authorities also seized 325 kilograms of methamphetamine as evidence,” Vicky said in Banda Aceh on Sunday, June 28, 2026.
Operation Timeline
The operation began after authorities received intelligence on Tuesday, June 23, 2026, indicating that a shipment of methamphetamine was being transported from Thailand to the Aceh coastline aboard a fishing vessel. Based on tactical analysis, officials estimated that the smugglers would land near Kuala Meuraksa, Blang Mangat District.
In response, the joint task force split into two coordinated teams. A maritime unit patrolled the Jambo Aye waters using a patrol vessel, while a ground team monitored the suspected landing area. After the target vessel docked, officers noticed a black vehicle leaving the direction of Blang Mangat Beach, prompting further surveillance.
Authorities intercepted the vehicle in Jambo Mesjid Village. Realizing they had been surrounded, the suspects attempted to flee into a nearby forested area.
“When the vehicle was stopped, the two suspects tried to escape into nearby bushes. However, thanks to the swift response of the joint task force, both were pursued and successfully apprehended,” Vicky explained.
A search of the vehicle uncovered 13 yellow burlap sacks. Inside were hundreds of Chinese tea packages concealing white crystalline methamphetamine. Preliminary examination showed that the narcotics had a total gross weight of 325 kilograms.
The two suspects, identified as Z and J, along with all seized evidence, have been handed over to NOC Task Force Team I at the National Police Headquarters for further investigation.
Vicky emphasized that authorities will continue strengthening surveillance across Aceh’s coastal and maritime areas to dismantle international drug trafficking networks that frequently exploit illegal landing points along the shoreline.
Authorities believe the international syndicate has been taking advantage of weak security along remote maritime routes to supply illicit drugs to the domestic market. The Indonesian National Police, together with relevant agencies, will continue expanding covert operations to identify and apprehend the masterminds behind this major drug smuggling operation, which poses a serious threat to the nation’s younger generation.***
