"The smuggler is a member of a network from China and is considered a big sindicate," said Oza Olavia, the supervision and service head of the Soekartno-Hatta airport`s customs and excise officeTangerang, Banten (ANTARA News) - Soekarno-Hatta International Airport`s customs and excise officers foiled a smuggling attempt involving 5,688 grams of crystal methamphetamine worth more than Rp7 billion.
"The smuggler is a member of a network from China and is considered a big sindicate," said Oza Olavia, the supervision and service head of the Soekartno-Hatta airport`s customs and excise office, here on Monday.
The smuggler is an Indonesian citizen known by his initial as LT, 41 years old, and was acting as a courier. The meth was hidden in a Chinese porcelain claimed as a tea set.
The smuggler may get up to 20 years of imprisonment, or a life sentence, and a maximum fine of Rp10 million for carrying more than five grams of methamphetamine, if convicted.
An officer of the National Police`s anti-narcotic directorate, Aryo Karsidi, said the Chinese syndicate rented a three-story shop at Teluk Gong, Jakarta, as a warehouse for keeping the illicit drugs.
The Indonesian National Police is investigating the Chinese syndicate operation in Indonesia, he stated.
According to the available data, the Soekartno-Hatta airport`s customs officers have so far foiled 32 smuggling attempts involving illicit drugs worth more than Rp38 billion from January to September 17, 2012.(*)
Editor: Heru Purwanto
Copyright © ANTARA 2012
