RS was arrested on June 27 from a restaurant in Medan, the capital city of North Sumatra Province, with three kilograms of crystal meth that he had covered with three plastic bagsMedan, N Sumatra (ANTARA) - The North Sumatra police's anti-drug squad has thwarted an attempt to trade 59 kilograms of crystal methamphetamine and arrested seven drug mules for their alleged involvement in drug trafficking activities. The suspects that the police investigators nabbed from some different places in North Sumatra Province have only been identified by their initials RS, A, MAA, R, J, S, and H, Deputy Chief of the North Sumatra Province Brig. Gen. Mardiaz Kusin Dwihananto, said.
RS was arrested on June 27 from a restaurant in Medan, the capital city of North Sumatra Province, with three kilograms of crystal meth that he had covered with three plastic bags, Dwihananto said while speaking to journalists here Thursday.
Six other suspects were nabbed in different places, including R and J who was arrested on July 8, with two white plastic rice sacks containing 40 kilograms of crystal meth, Dwihananto added.
Indonesia is perceived by both domestic and transnational drug dealers as a potential market due to its huge population and millions of drug users.
Some 50 Indonesians die of illicit use of drugs every day, while the total number of drug users in the country has reached seven million, The National Narcotics Agency (BNN) has stated.
The value of the drug trade in the country is estimated to have reached nearly least Rp66 trillion.
Like many other provinces, North Sumatra has been continuously targeted by both domestic and international drug rings.
On March 9, 2019, for instance, the Tanjung Balai Police and Customs and Excise officers in North Sumatra Province arrested a Malaysian citizen, only identified by his initials as NZ, for allegedly smuggling 76.4 grams of crystal meth.
The suspect concealed a plastic pack of crystal meth, or popularly known as Sabu-Sabu, inside his right shoe, while two others were concealed in his anus, Tanjung Balai City Police Chief Adjunct Senior Commissioner Irfan Rifai told Antara recently.
The investigators were able to retrieve the two remaining packs from NZ's body, he revealed.
In addition to the crystal meth, the police officers confiscated other evidence of crime from the suspect, including two cellular phones, Rp400 thousand in cash, and a pair of shoes, Rifai revealed.
NZ had entered Indonesia on a ferry from Malaysia, which arrived at the Teluk Nibung Port in Tanjung Balai City, North Sumatra Province, on Saturday, March 9, at around 4:30 p.m. local time. (INE)
EDITED BY INE
Translator: Munawar M, Rahmad Nasution
Editor: Eliswan Azly
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