The cops stopped a black Avanza van the suspects used for transporting the drug package in the Simpang Pematang section of the Trans Sumatra toll road, Mesuji Police Chief Adjunct Sen.Coms.Yuli Haryudo said.
The suspects, identified as Afdal (32), Hendri Khaidir (50), and Eri Yanto (49), drove the car with registration license plate of B-2165-TOL, he told ANTARA who contacted him from Bandarlampung City on Sunday.
According to Chief of the Mesuji Police Precinct's Narcotics Unit First Inspector Muhammad Nufi, the confiscated crystal meth package comprised 15 packs that were covered with "Qing Shan" Chinese tea bags. The suspects put them into a black handbag.
The local police officers conducted a drug raid operation after getting a tip-off that there would be a drug trafficking operation inside the Mesuji police's administrative area, he said.
Based on the tip-off, the cops thoroughly checked a van passing through the Simpang Pematang toll gate. As a result, they found a bag with the drug package from the car, he said.
The three suspects remain under the police custody for further investigation, Nufi added.
Indonesia remains under serious threat from drug dealers, with a significant section of its working-age population trapped in a vicious circle of drug abuse.
According to the National Narcotics Agency (BNN), at least 50 Indonesians die of drug use every day. The statistic has failed to deter drug users in the country from consuming the banned substances.
Users of crystal methamphetamine, narcotics, marijuana, and other types of addictive drugs come from any community and distinct socio-economic and cultural backgrounds.
Indonesia is perceived by both domestic and transnational drug dealers as a potential market due to its huge population and millions of drug users. The drug trade in the country is estimated to have reached nearly least Rp66 trillion.
The Indonesian government has continued to apply harsh punitive action against kingpins found smuggling and trading drugs over the past few decades.
Indonesian President Joko Widodo had also issued shoot-at-sight orders against drug kingpins.
However, this has failed to discourage drug traffickers, and they have continued to treat Indonesia as one of their main markets even as Indonesian law enforcers have kept the fight going against them.
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Translator: Dian H, Rahmad Nasution
Editor: Sri Haryati
Copyright © ANTARA 2022
