IZ is no longer a police officer from now on. I hope that a panel of judges who handle his case will severely punish the traitor of this nation
Pekanbaru, Riau (ANTARA) - The Riau police recently apprehended two drug dealers, including a police officer, for their alleged involvement in trafficking 16 kg of crystal methamphetamine.

The arrested policeman was identified as Commissioner IZ while the other suspect was HW, Riau Police Chief Inspector General Agung Setia Imam Effendi said here Saturday.

"IZ is no longer a police officer from now on. I hope that a panel of judges who handle his case will severely punish the traitor of this nation," he said.

Prior to their apprehension, they both attempted to escape but the police officers could stop their car on the Soekarno Hatta Road in Pekanbaru city on the day they got caught.

In their efforts to stop the culprits' car, the cops fired several shots at it, and IZ sustained gunshot wounds. He was then admitted to a local police hospital to receive a medical treatment.

The police officers confiscated 16 kg of crystal meth packed in 16 tea bags, he said.

Prior to the apprehension of IZ and HW, the Riau police seized a 20-kg package of crystal meth in Dumai city.

Following the seizure, several cops hunted down two suspects who were responsible for the drug package. They were finally arrested in Rupat Island, Bengkalis District, on Oct 15.

The suspects told the police investigators that they planned to escape to Malaysia. From them, the police investigators knew about the alleged involvement of IZ and HW, he said.

Indonesia remains under grave threat from drug dealers, who consider the country a potential market. The value of drug trade in Indonesia is estimated to have reached at least Rp66 trillion.

Users of crystal methamphetamine, narcotics, marijuana, and other types of addictive drugs transcend communities and socio-economic and cultural backgrounds.

With drug kingpins smuggling and trading drugs in the country over the past few decades, the Indonesian government has continued to apply harsh punitive action against them.

National Police Chief, General Idham Azis, recently pointed out that district courts in different parts of Indonesia awarded capital punishment to at least 100 drug offenders in the first half of 2020.

"May they soon be executed by firing squads to deter others," he stressed while witnessing the National Police special task force destroy 1.2 tons of crystal meth, 35 thousand ecstasy pills, and 410 kg of marijuana in Jakarta on July 2, 2020.

Indonesian President Joko Widodo had also issued shoot-at-sight orders against drug kingpins.

However, this has failed to deter drug traffickers, who continue to treat Indonesia as one of their main markets, even as Indonesian law enforcers continue their fight against them.

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Translator: Bayu AA, Rahmad Nasution
Editor: Fardah Assegaf
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