The crystal meth package was smuggled by a man riding a motorcycle from the area bordering Malaysia's Kuching with the Indonesian province of West Kalimantan, Director of the West Kalimantan Police's Narcotics Division Sen. Coms. Gembong Yudha stated here on Monday.
"It was possible owing to a tip-off received by the local police investigators of a man aboard a motorbike carrying a drug package from Kuching to West Kalimantan. The anti-drug squad personnel focused on the suspect's move," he stated.
On March 15, at around 10:40 a.m. local time, the police investigators intercepted the man while he was riding his motorcycle on the Trans-Kalimantan highway in Ambawang Sub-district and heading to Pontianak City, Yudha revealed.
The police confiscated five packs of crystal meth that the courier had camouflaged with green tea packs, he remarked, adding that the arrested courier came clean to police investigators on the involvement of several people in this Malaysia-Indonesia drug ring.
The suspects that the police investigators later apprehended were SK, a Pontianak city resident, and TF, a drug convict at the city's penitentiary, who controlled this drug smuggling operation, he noted.
Indonesia remains under grave threat from drug dealers, as several individuals from its working-age population have become embroiled in a vicious circle.
The National Narcotics Agency's (BNN's) report that some 50 Indonesians die of drug use daily has not deterred drug users in the country from consuming these banned substances.
The users of crystal methamphetamine, narcotics, marijuana, and other types of addictive drugs are from all communities and transcend socio-economic and cultural backgrounds, according to officials.
Indonesia is viewed by both domestic and transnational drug dealers as a potential market owing to its huge population and millions of drug users. The value of drug trade in the country is estimated to have reached some Rp66 trillion. Related news: East Java police seize 15 kg of crystal meth smuggled from Malaysia
Related news: Indonesian police bust Malaysia-Pekanbaru-Jakarta drug ring
EDITED BY INE
Translator: Andilala, Rahmad Nasution
Editor: Suharto
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