We continue to conduct probe into the case. I will lead further investigation into it
Jakarta (ANTARA) - The West Jakarta police officers have continued their manhunt for a drug kingpin owning 115 kilograms (kg) of marijuana to North Sumatra after two couriers were arrested on February 16, 2021.

"We continue to conduct probe into the case. I will lead further investigation into it," Chief of the West Jakarta Police's Drug Crime Investigation Unit Adjunct Sen. Coms. Ronaldo Maradona Siregar stated here on Tuesday.

The two suspects, identified by their initials as PYP (25) and DK (26), were arrested in the Depok neighborhood, West Java Province, he confirmed.

The two suspects transported the cannabis packages that they had hidden inside three large-sized drums, filled with soil, from the provinces of North Sumatra to West Java, he revealed.

However, the duo came under the police’s net in Depok on Feb 16, he stated, adding that the inter-provincial drug trafficking ring had devised myriad means of securing their marijuana package deliveries.

In securing the deliveries to Jakarta and other cities in Java, local drug cartels conceal the packages by mixing them with fruit and food containers, he remarked. The Indonesian capital Jakarta remains prone to drug trade.

On January 22, 2021, the West Jakarta Metropolitan Police foiled an attempt by a 22-year-old drug courier to deliver a crystal methamphetamine package.

The suspect, identified by his initials as S, was arrested in the Kapuk Muara neighborhood, Penjaringan Sub-district, North Jakarta.

Domestic and transnational drug dealers view 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 barons found smuggling and trading drugs in the country.

The National Narcotics Agency (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.
Related news: Police continues investigation into cops' role in drug abuse case

Related news: Lawmaker regrets involvement of 12 police officers in "drug party"

EDITED BY INE

Translator: Abdu F, Rahmad Nasution
Editor: Fardah Assegaf
Copyright © ANTARA 2021