The court's judiciary panel, headed by Irwandi, also sentenced Basri bin Rusli (32), Aji bin Abdullah (45), and Teja Saputra bin Edi Junaidi (23) to life in prison, as well as Junaidi bin Aji (23) to 20 years imprisonment for this drug trafficking case.
The judiciary panel also imposed a fine of Rp1 billion on Junaidi bin Aji in a verdict that came similar to the sentences demanded by the prosecution.
The East Aceh police officers apprehended five convicts in a drug raid operation near a fish farm of Gampong Naleung in Julok Sub-district on April 14, 2020.
Coordinated by M. Kasem bin Abdullah, they were found smuggling 45 kg of crystal meth aboard three motorboats from Malaysia into Indonesia through the East Aceh waters.
The drug raid resulted in the confiscation of 45 kg of crystal meth, three motorboats, and a motorbike that this East Aceh drug syndicate’s members used during their drug trafficking operation.
Domestic and transnational drug dealers view Indonesia as a potential market owing to its vast population and millions of drug users. Drug trade in the nation is valued at nearly Rp66 trillion.
People from all strata of society are falling prey to drugs, regardless of their socio-economic and professional backgrounds.
In the face of the grave threat posed by drug lords, National Narcotics Agency (BNN) Chief, Commissioner General Heru Winarko, has sought capital punishment for those involved in drug trade in the country.
Tough punishment has repeatedly been given to drug offenders in Indonesia. On November 17, 2020, for instance, the Palembang District Court sentenced Madrio Gilang, 26, to 20 years in prison after being arrested with a package of drugs in June this year.
Gilang was arrested by the South Sumatra police's anti-drug squad in front of the Siti Khodijah Hospital, Palembang City, early morning of June 19, 2020, after receiving a cardboard box from an unidentified person.
The police found 240 grams of crystal methamphetamine and 12,528 ecstasy pills in the box.
During the court proceedings, Gilang admitted to his intent to sell the illicit drugs.
Last August, the Palembang District Court had also sentenced drug courier Muchtar Daud to 16 years in prison for transporting one kilogram of crystal meth.
The court's judiciary panel had also ordered Daud to pay a fine of Rp1 billion in their verdict, which was lighter than the 17-year imprisonment demanded by the prosecutors.
The South Sumatra police arrested Daud in Sungai Lilin Sub-district, Musi Banyuasin District, last April.
Related news: West Sumatra police destroy seized marijuana, cathinone packages
Related news: Police seize 52.4 kg of crystal meth in 22 days
EDITED BY INE
Translator: M.Haris SA, Rahmad Nasution
Editor: Fardah Assegaf
Copyright © ANTARA 2020
