The crystal meth package was destroyed by using buckets containing water mixed with detergent liquid at an event held at the Riau police headquarters in Pekanbaru on Wednesday.
The illicit drug package was confiscated from the suspects during a recent raid in Pekanbaru, the capital of Riau Province, according to Riau Deputy Police Chief Brig. Gen. Kasihan Rahmadi.
One of the suspects was shot dead after attempting to ram his mini truck into several cops attempting to arrest them, he remarked.
The drug smugglers packed the crystal meth into 14 rice bags that they hid beneath coconuts and loaded them onto a Colt L-300 mini truck, Rahmadi stated, adding that local cops also seized two vehicles that the suspects used.
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 death penalty, he stated.
The Riau police's success in thwarting the smuggling of crystal meth package has saved the lives of over 2.7 million people from getting dragged into drug addiction and crimes, he added.
Related news: Riau: Police prevent distribution of 745 kg crystal meth in 2022
The waters of Bengkalis and Dumai in Riau remain vulnerable to Malaysia-Indonesia syndicates' drug smuggling operations. The smugglers attempt to sneak in the drug packages to various parts of Indonesia from Riau, he stated.
"To prevent these transnational crimes, we must intensify our patrols and law enforcement against the perpetrators," he remarked.
Indonesia is viewed 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, for instance, 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.
Meanwhile, on December 1, 2022, two drug mules were prevented from transporting some 455 grams of crystal methamphetamine that they had stashed in their anus during a flight from Aceh Province to Java Island.
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.
Related news: BNN destroys 402.34 kg of crystal meth, 198.05 kg marijuana
Related news: Police turn scanner on drug syndicates recruiting housewives
Translator: Bayu A. Rahmad Nasution
Editor: Yuni Arisandy Sinaga
Copyright © ANTARA 2023
