Police confiscate Rp97 bln worth of etomidate from international ring

Tangerang, Banten (ANTARA) - The Soekarno-Hatta Airport Police have seized 8.6 liters of the Class II narcotic etomidate with a street value of Rp97.8 billion (US$5,3 million) from an international drug trafficking network.

Soekarno-Hatta Airport Police Chief, Senior Commissioner Wisnu Wardana, on Monday informed that the narcotics evidence was secured from three cases over a five-month period, from February to May 2026.

"We have secured a total of 8,600 milliliters/8.6 liters of etomidate liquid with a street value of approximately Rp97.8 billion (US$5,3 million)," he confirmed.

Wardana outlined the cross-border drug smuggling network involved four suspects from Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, and China. They acted as couriers, receiving between Rp45 million (US$2,455) and Rp132 million (US$7,202) each.

Meanwhile, the Head of the Soekarno-Hatta Airport Police Narcotics Unit, Adjunct Commissioner Michael Kharisma Tandayu, said his party arrested four suspects from the three cases, consisting of TN, a Singaporean citizen; CT, a Malaysian citizen; JZ, a Chinese citizen; and SP, a Thai citizen.

The first case began on May 21, 2026, at Terminal 2F International Arrivals at Soekarno-Hatta Airport, where officers suspected the luggage belonging to TN and CT, arriving from Malaysia on AirAsia flight QZ241.

A search of TN's luggage led to the discovery of two silver plastic containers holding 2,000 milliliters of liquid etomidate with a gross weight of 1,995 grams.

Meanwhile, officers found two bottles labeled "Dove" containing 2,000 milliliters of etomidate with a gross weight of 2,244 grams inside CT's silver suitcase, bringing the total seizure in the case to 4,000 milliliters.

Michael said the second case was uncovered on May 25, 2026, at Terminal 2F International Arrivals. Officers arrested a Chinese national identified as JZ, who arrived from Thailand on Thai Lion Air flight SL116.

"During an inspection of his black suitcase, officers found a bottle labeled 'Dove' containing 500 milliliters of liquid etomidate weighing 572.2 grams, concealed inside a plastic bag," Michael said.

The investigation found that JZ had been instructed by an individual identified as HC, who remains at large, to transport the etomidate from Thailand to Jakarta. The recipient was expected to collect the narcotics in Jakarta after JZ returned to China.

The third case was uncovered on February 26, 2026, at Terminal 3 International Arrivals at Soekarno-Hatta Airport. Officers arrested SP, a Thai national who arrived from Bangkok on Thai Airways flight TG435.

A search of the suspect's black suitcase uncovered seven bottles of liquid etomidate disguised as everyday consumer products.

"The total evidence amounted to 4,100 milliliters with a gross weight of 4,129 grams. SP admitted that he had been instructed by an individual identified as SS, who is currently a fugitive. The narcotics were to be collected by a recipient network in Jakarta after SP returned to Thailand," Michael said.

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Translator: Azmi Syamsul, Resinta Sulistiyandari

Editor: Primayanti

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