The arrested suspects are all members of drug trafficking networksSerang, Banten (ANTARA) - Indonesia's National Narcotics Agency (BNN), on Tuesday, destroyed 402.34 kg of crystal meth, 198.05 kg of marijuana, and 105,290 ecstasy pills seized by its officers during drug raids between September and November 2022.
The drugs were destroyed by using a contraband incinerator at an event attended by BNN Chief Petrus R. Golose, BNN-Banten Office Head Hendri Marpaung, police officers, government officials, and local community figures.
According to Golose, the drugs were seized by the agency's officers from drug dealers and couriers arrested during drug raids in several provinces, including Aceh and North Sumatra, from September to November this year.
"The arrested suspects are all members of drug trafficking networks," he noted, adding that the drugs destroyed in Serang, Banten Province, on Tuesday could save the lives of over two million Indonesians.
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All evidence of drug crimes that the BNN destroyed were from 12 drug cases involving 38 suspects, he stated.
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.
On October 25, 2022, the Medan city police thwarted an attempt to trade 42 kg of crystal meth by three drug traffickers in the capital city of North Sumatra Province and arrested the trio.
The suspects were identified by their initials as ZU (28), SMS (36), and IS (42).
The crystal meth package was received by SMS from a drug lord in Malaysia. The police arrested SMS while transporting the crystal methamphetamine on the Tebing Tinggi-Medan highway on Oct 25, 2022.
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Meanwhile, on December 1, 2022, two drug mules' attempt to transport some 455 grams of crystal methamphetamine that they had stashed in their anus during a flight from Aceh Province to Java Island could be foiled.
The suspects, only identified by their initials as ZK (52) and MD (32), were arrested by police officers at the Soekarno Hatta International Airport's Terminal 3, Banten Police spokesperson Sen. Coms. Shinto Silitonga stated.
The cops seized 455 grams of crystal meth 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.
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: Mulyana, Rahmad Nasution
Editor: Fardah Assegaf
Copyright © ANTARA 2022
