Courts in Indonesia have delivered severe punishments to two Thai citizens involved in transporting an enormous quantity of methamphetamine, marking one of the nation’s most significant narcotics seizures in recent memory.
On Friday, judicial authorities in Batam imposed a life sentence on Weerapat Phongwan for his role in coordinating and supervising the drug distribution network, according to court officials. His co-defendant, Teerapong Lekpradub, received a 17-year prison term after being convicted of serving as a middleman in the narcotics transaction.
The arrests took place last May when Indonesian law enforcement intercepted a fishing vessel carrying 67 containers filled with methamphetamine totaling nearly 2 tons in weight. Court records reveal the drugs had been concealed inside tea bag packaging, as demonstrated in police footage from the investigation.
Authorities apprehended the suspects in maritime territory off Karimun in the Riau Islands province, located close to Singapore. Along with the two Thai nationals, four Indonesian citizens were also taken into custody during the operation.
The legal proceedings continued Thursday when the same court sentenced another defendant, Fandi Ramadhan, to five years behind bars. Verdicts for the remaining three accused individuals are expected to be announced next week.
The case gained widespread attention on social media platforms after Ramadhan’s relatives appealed to President Prabowo Subianto, requesting presidential intervention to secure his release.
According to local news sources, the narcotics originated from Phuket, Thailand, and investigators believe they were supplied by an international criminal organization with operations spanning Thailand, Myanmar, and Laos.
Indonesia maintains extremely harsh penalties for drug-related offenses. The country demonstrated its tough stance in 2015 when it executed two Australian citizens connected to the notorious Bali Nine smuggling ring for attempting to transport heroin from the popular tourist destination.
