Along with crystal methamphetamine, police also seized 10 thousand ecstasy pills from them.
“The shabu-shabu (crystal methamphetamine) was wrapped in tea packages with Chinese characters on the packages. We are still digging for more information on where the drugs came from, whether from overseas or not. The drugs were taken out of Aceh for distribution,” Heru Pranoto, head of the Aceh Provincial BNN, said here at a press meet on Tuesday.
He was flanked by director of the Aceh Regional Police's Narcotics Investigation Unit, Commissioner Ade Sapari, and head of Aceh BNN's Eradication Division, T Saladin.
The detained drug traffickers have been identified by their initials as R (30) and Z (29). Both are residents of Muara Batu, North Aceh district, he informed.
"R was arrested in East Aceh and Z in Medan, North Sumatra. Meanwhile, another person, with the initial T, is still being chased and (has been) put in the wanted criminal list," Pranoto informed.
T is suspected of controlling the smuggling of the illicit drugs, he said.
The arrests were made after the BNN received a tip from the public and launched an investigation in collaboration with Aceh Police, he added.
Acting on the tip, police laid an ambush for R in East Aceh, but he managed to flee to Lhokseumawe after abandoning his motorcycle along with the drug consignment.
“At that time, R fled to Lhokseumawe by taking public transportation. R was finally arrested in front of the Cut Meutia Lhokseumawe Hospital,” Pranoto said.
During interrogation, R told the police that the drugs were meant to be sent to Z in North Sumatra. Based on the information he provided, Z was later arrested at a rice stall in Medan City.
Heru Pranoto said R and Z are currently being detained at the Aceh Provincial BNN Office in Banda Aceh for further legal proceedings.
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Translator: M Haris, SA, Fardah
Editor: Rahmad Nasution
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