Before they were destroyed, the drugs were examined at the National Police's forensic laboratory, Riau Police chief, Inspector General Mohammad Iqbal, informed.
The arrested suspects had hidden the drugs in Chinese tea bags, he said.
The police and their counterparts from related agencies in Riau will continue their fight against drug traffickers and bring them to trial to break the chain of drug trafficking, he added.
Indonesia remains under serious threat from domestic and transnational drug dealers, who consider it a potential market due to its huge population and millions of drug users.
Despite the ongoing spread of the novel coronavirus disease, which has prompted mobility restrictions and border closures by countries for curbing transmission, the trafficking of drugs has continued unabated.
On January 29, 2022, for instance, police officers in Mesuji district, Lampung province, arrested three suspected drug couriers with 15 kg of crystal meth on the Trans Sumatra toll road.
Related news: Drug bust nets 20-kilogram meth haul for Riau Police
According to the National Narcotics Agency (BNN), at least 50 Indonesians die of drug use every day. However, the statistic has failed to deter drug users in the country.
Users of crystal methamphetamine, narcotics, marijuana, and other types of addictive drugs come from any community and distinct socio-economic and cultural backgrounds. The drug trade in the country is estimated to have reached nearly 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 has 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: Annisa F, Rahmad Nasution
Editor: Suharto
Copyright © ANTARA 2022
