The suspect, noted as the resident of Tanjung Ketung Village, Maro Sebo Sub-district, Muaro Jambi District, Jambi Province, came clean about being paid Rp5 million to trade the drug, Jambi Police Chief Sen. Coms. Dover Cristian remarked.
To conceal the drug, the suspect packaged the crystal meth in a plastic bag mixed with dried and steamed macharel, he stated, adding that the police investigators were yet on the lookout for Riko, who had allegedly got involved in the drug deal.
The police also apprehended another drug dealer named Nur Hasan, 39, on grounds of hiding 400 grams of crystal meth belonging to Ibrahim, alias Boim, an inmate of Sabak Class II B Penitentiary.
The crystal meth was found inside Boim's house. The drug was intended to be sold to local drug users for which Boim would manage the drug dealing from behind bars, Cristian stated.
Hasan is charged with Article 112, Point 2, or Article 114, Point 2, of the Indonesian Drug Law Number 35 of 2009. The suspect is liable to serve a five-year jail term, he noted.
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Indonesia remains under serious threat from drug dealers, as several individuals from its working-age population have been embroiled in a vicious circle.
According to the National Narcotics Agency's (BNN's) report, some 50 drug use-related deaths occur in Indonesia. However, their deaths have failed to deter other drug users in the country from consuming these banned substances.
Users of crystal methamphetamine, narcotics, marijuana, and other addictive drugs transcend communities and socio-economic and cultural backgrounds.
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 drug trade in the country is estimated to have reached nearly Rp66 trillion.
In response to the illicit drugs that drug kingpins have smuggled into and traded in the country over the past few decades, the Indonesian government continues to apply punitive measures against them.
Indonesian President Joko Widodo had also issued shoot-at-sight orders against drug kingpins.
However, this has failed to dissuade drug traffickers. They continue to treat Indonesia as one of their main markets even as Indonesian law enforcers continue unabated their fight against them.
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Related news: Narcotics agency destroys meth smuggled from Malaysia
EDITED BY INE
Translator: Nanang M, Rahmad Nasution
Editor: Fardah Assegaf
Copyright © ANTARA 2019
