The suspects, a couple and their daughter, have been identified by their initials RS, MT, and ND, head of BNN-South Kalimantan Office's law enforcement division, Brig.Gen.Jackson Lapalonga, said here on Monday.
The drug racket was uncovered after locals tipped off police about the delivery of crystal methamphetamine packages from Banjarmasin to Tanah Bambu district, he informed.
Based on the information, BNN officials launched a raid, and on February 9, 2021, RS and his wife, MT, were nabbed in their car in the Kintap police precinct in Tanah Laut district, he said.
BNN and police officers found three packages of crystal meth weighing about 288 grams inside their vehicle.
BNN investigators then searched their house in Banjarbaru city and arrested their daughter, ND, for allegedly securing 23 packages of crystal meth, weighing three kilograms, and 357 ecstasy pills, Lapalonga said.
As the drugs were wrapped in Chinese green tea packages, BNN suspects they may have been smuggled from Malaysia through North Kalimantan and East Kalimantan provinces to be traded in South Kalimantan.
BNN investigators also suspect the couple, who have past drug convictions, may have been regularly conducting the drug-trafficking operation, he said.
The case is still being investigated to find those who were purchasing drugs from the couple, he said, adding the BNN's success in confiscating the drugs may save at least 64 thousand people in South Kalimantan.
Domestic and transnational drug dealers perceive Indonesia as a potential market owing to its huge 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 in the country regardless of their socio-economic and professional backgrounds.
Over the past few decades, the Indonesian government has taken harsh punitive action against drug kingpins found smuggling and trading drugs in the country.
The BNN has sought capital punishment for those involved in drug trade in the country.
Indonesian President Joko Widodo has also issued shoot-at-sight orders against drug kingpins.
However, this has failed to deter drug traffickers, who continue to treat Indonesia as a main market, prompting Indonesian law enforcers to step up vigil against them. (INE)
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EDITED BY INE
Translator: Firman, Rahmad Nasution
Editor: Fardah Assegaf
Copyright © ANTARA 2021
