This trans-national drug syndicate was busted by the police investigators after they apprehended a drug courier in Serpong, Tangerang, Banten Province, Jakarta Metropolitan Police spokesman Sen. Coms. Argo Yuwono informed journalists in Jakarta on Friday.
The drug courier's arrest had led the police investigators to Pekanbaru, the capital city of Riau Province, for further investigation into a tip-off hinting at the presence of a package of crystal meth smuggled from Malaysia into Indonesia, he noted.
Yuwono affirmed that the anti-drug squad members then arrested a suspect, identified by his initials as AB, at a hotel in Pekanbaru while he was waiting for his colleague, who was driving a car, with 21 kg of crystal meth onboard.
Shortly after AS entered the hotel's parking area, the police officers stopped him and conducted a thorough examination of the car during which they came across a bag containing 10 kg of crystal meth and another bag with 11 kg of crystal meth, he noted.
These two suspects' arrests led the police investigators to two other suspects, IM and IS. AS came clean to the police investigators about having obtained the crystal meth package from a Malaysian drug ring wherein the transaction process was conducted at sea.
AS was quoted as saying that he had communicated with a Malaysian national, identified by his initial J, who had requested him to come to Johor, Malaysia.
He visited Johor by taking a speed boat through Batam, Riau Islands Province, to meet J, who then handed 21 kg of crystal meth to him. He returned to Batam aboard the speed boat, while the sabu-sabu package that he got from J would be transported to Pekanbaru.
Yuwono noted that from Pekanbaru, the sabu-sabu package would be sold to drug users in Jakarta. He further added that the four suspects are charged with Indonesian Drug Law Number 35 of 2009 under which they are liable to face death penalty.
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 distinct socio-economic and cultural backgrounds use crystal methamphetamine, narcotics, marijuana, and other addictive drugs. Related news: Uncovered drug cases in Indonesia increase in early 2019: police
Related news: Police foil distribution of 48.4 kg of methamphetamine
EDITED BY INE
Translator: Fianda SR, Rahmad Nasution
Editor: Suharto
Copyright © ANTARA 2019
