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| 12 Kg of Meth Found Adrift in Bangka Waters: Old Trick, Big Threat! |
The Bangka Belitung (Babel) Regional Police made headlines again! This time, the Directorate of Water and Air Police (Ditpolairud) uncovered a shocking discovery off the coast of Belinyu, Bangka. But it wasn’t a fishing haul or a stranded boat—it was 12 kilograms of methamphetamine, floating without an owner.
Suspicious Package Leads to Major Drug Bust
It all started on May 21, 2025, when Ditpolairud officers received a tip about a suspicious object found in the waters of Belinyu. The team quickly followed up and headed to the scene.
Once there, they discovered multiple packages wrapped to look like tea products—clearly an attempt to mislead law enforcement. But inside? Not tea leaves—crystal meth.
17 Packages Found, 12 Filled with Meth
After carefully examining the packages, police found a total of 17. Of those, 12 were filled with meth and 5 were empty. What’s more shocking—they were hidden inside a freezer, apparently placed at specific GPS coordinates.
“These packages were most likely dropped off at a pre-agreed location, where a buyer would later pick them up. It’s a method to avoid face-to-face contact,” said Babel Police Chief, Inspector General Drs. Hendro Pandowo, M.Si., as reported by RRI on Tuesday, June 3, 2025.
Thanks to a fleet of 21 patrol boats constantly monitoring the area, the operation was intercepted before the packages could be picked up.
No Suspects Yet, But the Hunt is On
Although the drugs have been secured, police have yet to identify or arrest any suspects. The Ditpolairud team is actively working with the Provincial National Narcotics Agency (BNNP Babel) and Babel’s Narcotics Unit to track down everyone involved.
“This isn't a new method. We’ve seen this before in Indonesia—drug traffickers leave the goods at a certain spot, either on land or at sea, and someone else picks them up later. It’s a tactic used to dodge surveillance,” Hendro explained.
Massive Drug Haul, Estimated at $320,000
The total haul this time? A whopping 12 kilograms of meth, with an estimated street value of around Rp5 billion (roughly $320,000 USD). This case is yet another sign that Babel’s waters are still being exploited as a drug trafficking route.
“In a previous case, we seized 5 kilograms. So clearly, drug circulation in Babel’s coastal and island areas remains high. We're stepping up prevention efforts and strengthening coordination with other agencies,” Hendro added.
Same Old Trick, But Still Dangerous
This “ownerless meth” case is a big wake-up call. The no-contact handoff method is still being used, proving how traffickers adapt to avoid detection. Thankfully, the Babel Water Police were quick and smart, preventing the drugs from reaching the streets. But the job isn’t over—authorities are still chasing down the people behind it.
Let’s hope efforts to stop drug trafficking in the region continue to grow stronger. And remember—community awareness is key. If you see something suspicious, don’t stay silent. Reporting can make a real difference.
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