The suspect, who is believed to belong to an inter-province drug syndicate, was apprehended during a raid in the first week of October, South Sumatran police spokesperson Sen.Coms. Supriadi said here on Tuesday.
The suspect told investigators he was planning to trade the consignment of crystal methamphetamine in Palembang and several other South Sumatran cities, he informed.
Police are continuing to investigate the case to catch other members of the drug ring, he added.
Besides apprehending the Medan-based drug courier, the South Sumatran police's anti-drug squad also uncovered 39 other drug-related offenses and arrested 51 suspects in the first week of this month, Supriadi informed.
South Sumatra is one of the provinces in the Indonesian Island of Sumatra which remains vulnerable to drug crimes.
ANTARA has earlier reported on drug trafficking operations in the province involving ordinary citizens and even a legislator.
On September 22, 2020, the central executive board of the Golkar Party's South Sumatra chapter had sacked a legislator representing the party's faction in the Palembang city legislative body following his arrest over a drug-related offense.
The sacked lawmaker has been identified as D. He was apprehended by a team of officials drawn from the National Narcotics Agency and police. Officials seized 5 kg of crystal methamphetamine and 30 thousand ecstasy pills from him.
Chairman of the Golkar Party's South Sumatra chapter, Dodi Reza Alex Noerdin, said D had committed an extraordinary crime and therefore, could be subject to severe punishment.
D was elected as a member of the Golkar Party faction at the Palembang city legislative body in 2019.
D was arrested along with five other suspects who were allegedly working for him. BNN investigators said D was allegedly receiving drugs from Aceh province and selling them in Palembang city and its surrounding areas.
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Indonesia remains under serious threat from drug dealers who perceive it as a potential market. The value of the drug trade in the country is estimated to have reached nearly Rp66 trillion.
Users of crystal methamphetamine, narcotics, marijuana, and other types of addictive drugs transcend communities, and socio-economic and cultural backgrounds. (INE)
EDITED BY INE
Translator: Yudi A, Rahmad Nasution
Editor: Fardah Assegaf
Copyright © ANTARA 2020
