Jayapura (ANTARA) -

The Narcotics Directorate of the Papua Regional Police arrested MA (23), a Papua New Guinea (PNG) national, for allegedly transporting, smuggling, and distributing 21.3 kilograms of marijuana in Jayapura, Papua.

“The arrest followed an investigation into the rising circulation of marijuana around the Entrop area,” Head of Subdirectorate 3 of the Narcotics Directorate, Adjunct Police Commissioner (AKP) Agus Kuswanto, said in Jayapura on Wednesday.

According to him, the arrest took place on Tuesday at around 8:40 a.m. local time, after an undercover team from Subdirectorate III conducted surveillance in Entrop, South Jayapura District.

The team grew suspicious of a motorcyclist who stopped in front of the South Jayapura District Office.

When approached, the driver fled, but MA—who was riding pillion—was apprehended. A search of his bag revealed marijuana.

Following the arrest, police searched MA’s rented room and found 470 packages of marijuana weighing a total of 21.3 kilograms.

MA will be charged under Article 114(2) and/or Article 132(1) of Law No. 35 of 2009 on Narcotics, which carries a minimum sentence of 6 years and a maximum of 20 years, life imprisonment, or the death penalty, AKP Agus said.

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Translator: Evarukdijati, Aditya Wicaksono
Editor: Azis Kurmala
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