We deplore the absence of optimal security surveillance at the shopping mall because a car parked for more than 24 hours should have been checked by the mall's security guards to halt smuggled drugsJakarta (ANTARA) - The Head of the West Jakarta Metropolitan Police Drug Investigation Unit, Adjunct Sen. Coms. Erick Frendriz deplored the absence of security checks on a car loaded with crystal meth packages at a big city mall. "We deplore the absence of optimal security surveillance at the shopping mall because a car parked for more than 24 hours should have been checked by the mall's security guards to halt smuggled drugs," he told journalists here Thursday.
To avoid such incidents in the future, Frendriz appealed to the security guards of both shopping centers and apartments in West Jakarta areas to keep an eye on suspicious cars being parked for more than 24 hours.
Without mentioning the name of the shopping mall, he said the anti-drug squad found 23 kilograms of crystal methamphetamine or "sabu-sabu" hidden inside the car that had been parked at the mall's parking area more than 24 hours.
The policemen nabbed a suspect only identified by his initials SS (26) who was driving the car. Before arresting SS, the police investigators had apprehended four other suspects -- YG, ANJ, AM, and AJ -- in Kampong Ambon's neighborhood.
The police investigators confiscated 442 grams of crystal meth and 1,900 pills of "happy five" or Nimetazepam from the four suspects who confessed that they belonged to an international drug ring, headed by a Malaysian national, he said.
"The drug ring is headed by a Malaysian national but all of the suspects are Indonesians," he said.
Indonesia remains under grave threat from drug traffickers, as several individuals from its working-age population have become embroiled in a vicious circle.
The National Narcotics Agency's (BNN's) report on some 50 Indonesians dying of drug use daily has failed to deter addicts.
People across communities and from distinct socio-economic and cultural backgrounds use crystal methamphetamine, narcotics, marijuana, and other addictive drugs.
Hence, Indonesia is perceived by both domestic and transnational drug dealers as a potential market due to its huge population and millions of drug users. The value of the drug trade in the country is estimated to have reached nearly Rp66 trillion.
In response to the illicit drug trade over the past few decades, the Indonesian government continues to take punitive action.
Indonesian President Joko Widodo had also issued shoot-at-sight orders against drug traffickers.
However, drug felons remain undeterred and continue to treat Indonesia as one of their key markets even as law enforcers continue to wage their war. (INE)
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Translator: Devi NSR, Rahmad Nasution
Editor: Suharto
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