JAKARTA: Officials from the Indonesia Customs and Excise Office at Soekarno-Hatta International Airport in Tangerang, Banten, foiled five attempts to smuggle as much as Rp 14.2 billion (US$1.09 million) worth of narcotics in the past month, an official said here the other day.
“From the five trafficking cases, authorities confiscated 10.5 kilograms of crystal methamphetamine, locally known as ‘shabu-shabu’, and 60 grams of ketamine,” the airport’s Customs and Excise Office head, Okto Irianto, said as quoted by Antara in Tangerang here the other day.
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On Jan.27, authorities uncovered 2.02 kilograms of crystal meth hidden inside compressors at a warehouse in the airport on Jan.27.
Okto said the drug package was sent from Hong Kong and was to be delivered to a receiver in Parung, Bogor. Following further investigation, the police arrested two traffickers identified only by their initials EM, 43, and YT, 35.
“It is estimated that the crystal meth was worth Rp 2.7 billion,” he said.
The official said the four other cases occurred in February. One of the cases involved the discovery of 1,030 grams of crystal meth worth Rp 1.3 billion smuggled by a Chinese citizen identified only as LN, 29, who arrived on a China Airlines flight from Hong Kong on Feb.1.
On Feb.6, authorities apprehended a suspect identified only as S, 36, who attempted to smuggle 5.27 kilograms of crystal meth worth Rp 7.1 billion hidden in his luggage, he had also arrived from Hong Kong.
On Feb.13, the airport authorities uncovered 2.15 kilograms of crystal meth worth Rp 2.8 billion during a security screening. The narcotics smuggled by an Indonesian national, identified only as Z, were hidden in a ceramic figurine in the shape of a frog.
On Feb.18, authorities confiscated 51 grams of crystal meth and 60 grams of ketamine worth Rp 128 million from a Chinese citizen identified only as LW.
National Narcotics Agency (BNN) spokesperson Slamet Pribadi said the agency would investigate the five cases further to uncover the involvement of the drug networks operating in Indonesia.
