Balikpapan police seize 1 kg meth, arrest two female couriers

Balikpapan Police (Polresta Balikpapan) arrested two women – a midwife identified as RM and a housewife identified as MS – on 26 July 2026 at the Kampung Baru port while they were preparing to travel by sea to Penajam Paser Utara. The pair were found carrying 1.041 kg of methamphetamine (sabu) packed in 20 bundles, valued at roughly Rp1.56 billion. Police said the drugs originated from Tanjung Selor in North Kalimantan and were moved overland through Samarinda and Balikpapan.

The suspects were charged under Indonesia’s Narcotics Law (UU No. 35/2009, Articles 112 and 114) and face penalties up to life imprisonment or the death penalty, plus fines. AKBP Fauzan Arianto, head of the Balikpapan police, stated, “Siapa pun yang terlibat akan kami kejar dan proses sesuai ketentuan hukum,” and added that the seizure could prevent “sekitar 10 410 jiwa” from drug abuse.