The police investigation also blew the lid off the plan of drug dealers to transport some of the crystal meth package to other cities outside South Kalimantan, including those in Java, South Kalimantan Police Chief Inspector General Nico Afinta revealed.
On Wednesday, the South Kalimantan police destroyed the confiscated drug package. On the sidelines of this event, Afinta notified local journalists that the police's success in foiling this drug trafficking operation had saved Indonesia as a whole.
The National Police has constantly extended full support to the police's efforts in Kalimantan Island to thwart an international drug ring's attempts to smuggle drug packages into Indonesia. Kalimantan is vulnerable to be used as a gateway by the Malaysian drug syndicate, he pointed out.
The 300-kg crystal methamphetamine that the police confiscated from the two suspected drug dealers on Aug 6 were smuggled from Malaysia.
On Aug 6, the drug squad personnel apprehended two other suspects, only identified by their initials as A and R, at the Siena Inn Hotel in Banjarmasin, the capital of South Kalimantan Province, for allegedly receiving the drug package from AY and S.
The suspects were part of the same drug ring as the suspected drug dealers of the 208-kg of crystal meth that the police seized in March.
"The crystal meth packages are smuggled from Malaysia into North Kalimantan to then be transported to and traded in South Kalimantan," Afinta remarked.
Domestic and transnational drug dealers perceive Indonesia as a potential market on account of its huge population and millions of drug users. Drug trade in the nation is valued at nearly Rp66 trillion.
Individuals from every strata of society are falling victim to drugs regardless of socio-economic and professional backgrounds. The drug crisis has also engulfed those from the country's entertainment industry as is apparent from the arrests of several entertainers over consumption and also trade of illicit drugs.
In the face of the grave threat posed by drug lords, National Narcotics Agency (BNN) Chief Commissioner General Heru Winarko sought capital punishment for those involved in drug trade in the country.
Related news: Aceh police arrest 7, seize 4.5kg of drugs
Related news: East Java police seize 8.4-kg crystal meth smuggled from Malaysia
EDITED BY INE
Translator: Firman, Rahmad Nasution
Editor: Fardah Assegaf
Copyright © ANTARA 2020
