The alleged drug peddler, identified as DA, was apprehended by an undercover police officer posing as a buyer, in Medan Selayang subdistrict on November 14, 2020, Deli Serdang Police chief, Sen.Coms. Yemi Mandagi, said here on Wednesday.
The suspect had concealed 2,297 Happy Five (nimetazepam) pills inside a bag, he said, adding that DA told investigators that a man, identified as D, had promised to pay him Rp500 thousand for selling the drugs.
The police have seized the drug package as evidence of DA's crime, while D has been declared a fugitive, he said.
The police have charged DA for violating Articles 60 and 62 of Law No. 5/1997 on Psychotropic Substances.
If the Deli Serdang District Court finds him guilty, he will face a prison term of five to 15 years.
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 be at least Rp66 trillion.
Users of crystal methamphetamine, narcotics, marijuana, and other types of addictive drugs transcend communities and socio-economic and cultural backgrounds.
The Indonesian government has taken harsh punitive action against drug kingpins found smuggling and trading drugs in the country over the past few decades.
National Police Chief, General Idham Azis, recently stated that district courts in different parts of Indonesia have awarded capital punishment to at least 100 drug offenders in the first half of this year.
"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 has also issued shoot-at-sight orders against drug kingpins.
However, this has failed to deter drug traffickers, who have continued to treat Indonesia as one of their main markets, prompting Indonesian law enforcers to tighten vigilance against them. (INE)
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Translator: Nur ABS, Rahmad Nasution
Editor: Azis Kurmala
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