We are probing this drug trafficking caseBanjarmasin, S Kalimantan (ANTARA) - The South Kalimantan police officers continued their manhunt for drug lords who supplied nine kilograms of crystal methamphetamine to two farmers arrested on early Saturday.
"We are probing this drug trafficking case," Director of Drug Crime Unit at the South Kalimantan Police's Criminal Investigation Department Sen.Coms.Tri Wahyudi said.
The suspects, apprehended on the Gubernur Syarkawi Road in Barito Kuala District on March 6, were recruited as drug mules, he told local journalists here Saturday.
A huge drug syndicate might have controlled these residents of Tapin Tengah Sub-district in Tapin District, South Kalimantan Province, Tri Wahyudi said.
The suspects, only identified as US (34) and AD (38), admitted that they were farmers, and received a request to deliver the nine-kg package of crystal meth by phone.
They told the police investigators that they were required to transport the drug package to Ahmad Yani Road KM 8 of Banjar District, South Kalimantan.
They, however, did not know the person who would receive the package," he said, adding that they dared to commit the drug offence for cash.
Wahyudi said this drug trafficking operation could be foiled thanks to a tip-off that two residents of Tapin District would transport a drug package.
The Tapin Utara police officers then launched a drug raid operation on early Saturday (March 6) which ended with the apprehension of US and AD.
The cops seized 51 small packs of crystal meth weighing nine kilograms and a van used for carrying the drug package, he said.
"The suspects are now under the police custody for further investigation," he added.
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.
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Translator: Firman, Rahmad Nasution
Editor: Fardah Assegaf
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