Chief of the East Java Police, Inspector General Imam Sugianto, announced on Friday that one suspect, identified as MI alias Iyek, a Sampang resident, was arrested while driving a pickup truck carrying the drugs.
The arrest took place on Perlis Selatan Road, Surabaya, East Java.
The operation was a follow-up to the arrest of a husband and wife on April 17, 2024, in Bangsri, Sidoarjo. The couple had named a drug dealer who frequently smuggled methamphetamine from China into Indonesia via sea routes and distributed it across the country, including in Sidoarjo, Surabaya, and Kalimantan.
Based on this information, Sidoarjo police launched an investigation into the drug syndicate.
On July 22, 2024, they apprehended Iyek while he was transporting the methamphetamine in a silver Grandmax pickup.
After a high-speed chase, the vehicle was stopped at Pujasera Perumahan Pondok Mutiara.
The evidence seized by the police included the pickup truck and two wooden pallets containing 30 kilograms of methamphetamine packaged in Chinese tea containers.
Suspect MI faces life imprisonment or the death penalty under Article 114 paragraph (2) and/or Article 112 paragraph (2) Jo Article 132 paragraph (1) of Law of the Republic of Indonesia No. 35 of 2009 concerning Narcotics.
Inspector General Sugianto reiterated the police's commitment to eradicating drug trafficking and bringing perpetrators to justice. He emphasized the importance of collaborative efforts for combating drug syndicates.
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Translator: Indra Setiawan, Aditya Eko Sigit Wicaksono
Editor: Rahmad Nasution
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