The suspects, only identified by their initials as ZK, 52, and MD, 32, were nabbed by police officers at the airport's terminal 3 on December 1, Banten Police spokesperson Sen. Coms. Shinto Silitonga stated here Monday.
The cops seized 455 grams of crystal methamphetamine from ZK, a resident of Sawang Sub-district in North Aceh District, and MD, a resident of Mila Sub-district in Pidie District, he remarked.
According to Silitonga, the suspects were carried to Tangerang City's EMC Hospital for rontgen tests after the cops failed to find the packages of crystal methamphetamine that they had allegedly delivered, he said.
The rontgen test results showed the presence of strange capsules around the drug mules' hips, thereby prompting police investigators to ask them to remove them from their bodies, he remarked.
The cops were able to thwart the drug trafficking operation owing to a tip-off they received from community and sound collaboration with the airport's customs and excise officers, he said.
The suspects told police investigators that they had worked for BM, a drug dealer who remains on the hunt. If they succeeded in delivering the package, each of them would receive Rp3 million from BM, Silitonga stated.
Police investigators have charged the suspects under Articles 114 (2), 112 (2), and 132 (2) of the Narcotics Law. If found guilty, they could face imprisonment for six to 20 years, life imprisonment, or death penalty.
Indonesia is perceived by both domestic and transnational drug dealers as a potential market due to its vast population and millions of drug users.
The value of drug trade in the country is estimated to have reached nearly Rp66 trillion.
In response to the smuggling of illicit drugs by drug kingpins over the past few decades, the Indonesian government has continued to apply harsh punitive action against them.
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Translator: Mansyur S, Rahmad Nasution
Editor: Sri Haryati
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