The suspects, identified by their initials as AO, AR and AN, were arrested in Bukit Manggala Permai housing complex while receiving the contraband sent from Aceh province through a courier service, the chief of the Makassar city police, Senior Commissioner Rusdi Hartono, said.
He disclosed that the hashish was wrapped in milk cardboard packs along with coffee powder to overcome the aroma of dried narcotic during delivery.
However, the police found out the modus operandi after receiving information from the National Police Headquarters in Jakarta that there would be a delivery of hashish to Makassar from Aceh, he added.
"There were four packages of dried hashish wrapped in milk cardboard packs and kept there with the help of duct tape. To cheat the officers, coffee powder was sprinkled over the hashish so that it merely smelt of coffee," he explained.
Previously, the suspects had also received a kilogram of dried hashish from Aceh and trafficked it in Makassar.
"Based on their confession, they received consignments of hashish twice, with the first delivery involving one kilogram and the second delivery involving four kilograms," he informed.
The three suspects are being investigated.
If found guilty, they may be sentenced to a maximum of 20 years in jail and also fined up to Rp10 billion. (*)
Editor: Heru Purwanto
Copyright © ANTARA 2016
