Indonesian authorities have dismantled a large-scale clandestine laboratory in Pidie, Aceh, capable of producing 1.2 tons of narcotics. Following a months-long investigation, police apprehended multiple suspects, including two Chinese nationals identified as lead chemists, and seized significant quantities of both liquid and crystal methamphetamine.
International Drug Network Detection
The investigation into the operation began in February 2026, according to details provided by National Police Chief General Suyudi Ario Seto during a press conference in Pidie on October 23, 2026. As Detik news reported, officials first detected a narcotics network originating from China that was transporting hundreds of kilograms of liquid methamphetamine. The shipment moved through northern Myanmar, Laos, and Thailand before reaching its final destination in Banda Aceh on May 18, 2026.
Timeline of Chemical Procurement and Logistics
The operation involved a sophisticated logistics chain across several countries. Two Chinese nationals, identified as LJ (45) and XM (42), traveled from Yunnan, China, transiting through Malaysia before arriving in Banda Aceh on May 24, 2026. ExposeUpdate noted that the pair spent ten days in Aceh conducting site surveys before returning to Malaysia on June 2.
By late July 2026, the network initiated a second shipment of nearly one ton of liquid methamphetamine. To evade detection, the traffickers disguised the narcotics inside green cans branded as "Itanpro." In October, the logistics coordination intensified:
- October 15: LJ and XM traveled from Kunming to Kuala Lumpur, where they met with an Indonesian national identified as B.
- October 16: Suspect B flew from Kuala Lumpur to Banda Aceh to coordinate further movements.
- October 17: LJ, XM, and a suspect identified as MN arrived in Banda Aceh and were transported by a suspect named RI to a shophouse in the Jenep area.
- October 18: A Toyota Fortuner arrived at the site from the direction of Medan, and LJ contacted a supervisor in China, identified as LX, to confirm the manufacturing process had commenced.
Police Raid and Evidence Seizure
On October 21, 2026, authorities finalized their tactical plan after tracking the movement of supplies, including the transfer of crates to a white Honda Jazz. On October 22 at 12:19 p.m., joint task force teams confirmed the suspects’ locations and initiated raids at a shophouse on Jalan Dayah Tanoh in Mutiara Timur, Pidie, as well as four other locations across Bireuen, North Aceh, and Lhokseumawe.
Inside the Pidie laboratory, police arrested LJ, F, MY, AK, and AY. The search resulted in the recovery of 20 drums of liquid methamphetamine and approximately 500 kilograms of crystal methamphetamine, totaling roughly 1.2 tons of illicit narcotics.
What Role Did the Indonesian Suspect Play?
What role did the Indonesian suspect play in the laboratory operation?
The suspect identified as B was responsible for coordinating logistical movements after meeting with the primary chemists, LJ and XM, in Kuala Lumpur. According to ExposeUpdate, B traveled to Banda Aceh on October 16 to oversee the transport of materials to the production site in Pidie.
How did the suspects attempt to conceal the liquid narcotics during transport?
The traffickers disguised the liquid methamphetamine by packaging it inside green cans labeled "Itanpro." This method was used during the second shipment of nearly one ton of liquid narcotics in late July 2026, as reported by Detik news.
Are the primary organizers of the network in custody?
While the lead chemists LJ and XM and several local associates were arrested during the raid in Pidie, the investigation into the broader network remains active. Police identified an individual named LX, based in China, as the supervisor who received status updates on the production process, but his current status and location remain part of the ongoing investigation.
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