Indonesian border security forces have arrested a Malaysian man accused of attempting to smuggle 21.4 kilograms of methamphetamine into Indonesia through an illegal crossing route near the Entikong border in West Kalimantan.
The suspect, identified only as MO, 53, was detained by members of the Indonesia-Malaysia Border Security Task Force (Satgas Pamtas) during a special operation in Entikong, Sanggau.
Indonesia-Malaysia Border Security Task Force commander Lieutenant Colonel Andy Qomarudin said the arrest followed information from local residents regarding suspicious activity along an illegal route near the border between the two countries.
According to Andy, the suspect had frequently been seen moving in and out of forested areas despite not being an Indonesian citizen and having no land ownership in the area.
“He was often spotted entering the jungle, which raised suspicion among local residents and security personnel,” he said.
The suspect initially denied carrying any illegal items across the border. However, officers became suspicious after noticing that the bag he was carrying was secured with a padlock.
A subsequent inspection led to the discovery of 20 packages containing a total of 21.4 kilograms of methamphetamine.
Authorities also seized several personal belongings and a vehicle bearing Malaysian registration plates believed to be linked to the smuggling operation.
Preliminary investigations revealed that the suspect had initially entered Indonesia through the Entikong Integrated Border Crossing Post (PLBN) using valid travel documents before allegedly returning to Malaysia to collect the drugs.
He is believed to have then attempted to transport the narcotics back into Indonesia through an illegal jungle route, commonly known as a “rat trail,” in an effort to evade detection by border authorities.
The case remains under investigation as Indonesian authorities work to determine whether the suspect was acting alone or as part of a larger cross-border drug trafficking network.
The arrest highlights ongoing efforts by Indonesian security forces to tighten border controls and combat narcotics smuggling activities along the Malaysia-Indonesia frontier.
