Batam, Riau Islands (ANTARA News) - The police in Batam, Riau Islands, have arrested an alleged narcotics courier and confiscated 512.46 grams of methamphetamine.

"The suspect was caught near a police station at the Tiban Centre, Batam," said the chief of the narcotics unit of the Batam, Rempang, Galang resort police command, Commissioner Boy Herlambang, on Wednesday.

After arresting the suspect, A (27), the police seized five bags of methamphetamine from his home in Batuaji, said Boy.

He said A had received around Rp25 million from a drug trafficker. "A works for a big drug dealer, MND, who is most likely in Batam. A is paid every time he delivers drugs to clients," he said.

Boy said the meth was supplied by MND`s partners in Malaysia for distribution in Batam.

"We are handling the case. We are working hard to catch MND. We will find out how the illegal drug managed to enter Batam," he said.

He said A was supposed to deliver the drug to another individual, whose whereabouts are still unknown.

"The recipient had purchased the drug from MND and A was later assigned to deliver it to the recipient. However, before he could deliver the drug to the recipient, we arrested him," he said.

A could be charged for violating the law on narcotics. He could be imprisoned for a maximum of 15 years.

The island of Batam shares a border with Malaysia, making it easy for drug dealers to transport dugs between the two regions.

Apart from distributing drugs in Batam, MND also distributes drugs to other cities in Indonesia.(*)

Editor: Heru Purwanto
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