International drug syndicates prefer to use the sea route in smuggling drugs into Indonesia, Deputy Chief of BNN Insp.Gen. Arman Depari said here on Saturday.
Even in many other countries sea routes are used mostly by drug syndicates, Arman said, after giving a news conference on the arrest of a number of drug trafficking suspects with more than 83 kilograms of methamphetamine.
Arman cited there are many small unregistered harbors along the coast of Aceh and North Sumatra that could be used by smugglers.
It is not easy to control all places along the long coast, he said.
He said BNN cooperates with the customs offices and the navy to help watch and has also asked cooperation from many fisherman to report any suspicious vessels and activities along the coast.
On Friday, BNN and its North Sumatra unit arrested seven suspects carrying more than 83 kilograms of methamphetamine in Medan, North Sumatra.
The seven suspects were Zainudin, Elpi Darius, Sahrizal, Nurdin, Junaidi Siagian, Dahlia Husein dan Zainal, Arman.
Five of the suspects were arrested after BNN forced their car to stop. The BNN officers found 830 kg of methamphetamine in five plastic jerrycans in the car.
The suspects said the drug was to be handed over to two couriers from Aceh identified as Dahlia and Zainal, who were later arrested by BNN, Arman said.
He said the drug was brought to Medan from Tanjung Balai by the five suspects arrested first that day.
Reporting by Juraidi
Editing by Sri Haryati
Reporter: antara
Editor: Heru Purwanto
Copyright © ANTARA 2018
