"It is the third for the drugs syndicate to receive a thick steel pipe with methamphetamine concealed inside," the Chief of BNN Budi Waseso said at a press conference, which was also attended by the Customs and Excise Director General Heru Prambudi here on Wednesday.
At the time of the drugs being searched, BNN had confiscated nine pieces of steel pipe with 50 kilograms of crystal methamphetamine concealed in the pipes.
According to Waseso, BNN has detained five suspects identified by their initials as HE, EN, ED, GN and DD.
"HE is a former Cipinang Prison inmate, who is now on conditional release. HE used ENs identity to open an account and an address to send goods," he explained.
Waseso further said that the methamphetamine had just arrived a week ago from China and was raided at one of the houses in the Rawa Bebek area, which produces noodles. This mode of using a pipe to smuggle drugs is difficult to detect.
Waseso, who directly led the drug search, said his office has long investigated the case and made arrests after collecting sufficient evidence.
Earlier, the Deputy Chief of BNNs Drug Eradication Affairs branch, Inspector General Arman Depari, stated on Tuesday that the nine pieces of pipe, made of steel, weighed between 130 and 190 kilograms each and were four centimeters thick.
As anti-narcotic agents cut open one of the pipes, they found the best quality methamphetamine inside, wrapped in aluminum foil, he disclosed.(*)
Editor: Heru Purwanto
Copyright © ANTARA 2016
