Tangerang. Customs officers at Soekarno-Hatta Airport have apprehended a 26-year-old Thai national, identified by the initials KW, for attempting to smuggle drugs into Indonesia. The arrest took place on Aug.1, when KW arrived on a flight from Damascus to Cengkareng, landing at Terminal 2F of the international arrivals.

Head of Soekarno-Hatta Airport Customs Office, Gatot Sugeng Wibowo, said Thursday, that KW was carrying a white handbag and a suitcase. Her suspicious behavior prompted customs officers to conduct a thorough inspection.

Initially, KW resisted the examination, claiming her belongings contained only souvenirs. However, officers grew more suspicious upon discovering irregularly packed electronic cigarettes (vapes) disguised in food packaging. A detailed search in a designated inspection room revealed 11 packs of collagen supplements, nine packs of various candies, and 110 vape cartridges.

Lab tests confirmed that 10 packs of collagen supplements contained MDMA, methamphetamine, and nimetazepam, weighing a total of 183.9 grams. Another pack of collagen supplements tested positive for MDMA, weighing 3.82 grams. The nine candy packs were found to contain 133.44 grams of cocaine. The vapes contained etomidate, a substance known for its addictive properties. KW’s urine test also came back positive for methamphetamine and amphetamine.

KW claimed the items were given to her by a friend and were to be picked up at a hotel in West Jakarta. However, when authorities set up a sting operation, the intended recipient never arrived. KW and the confiscated items were handed over to the Soekarno-Hatta Airport Police for further investigation.

In addition to KW’s case, customs officials also arrested a 39-year-old Indonesian man, MNH, and a 26-year-old Malaysian national, HAD, in two separate drug-smuggling incidents. The combined evidence from these cases includes 287.29 grams of methamphetamine, 133.44 grams of cocaine, 1,623 ecstasy pills, and 3.82 grams of MDMA crystals.