TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Bandung's Customs and Excise officials and West Java's Provincial Anti-Narcotics Agency (BNNP) has foiled a methamphetamine smuggling attempt on Saturday, September 6, 2014. Authorities confiscated 1.32 kg of methamphetamines with a street value of billions of rupiah at Bandung's Husein Sastranegara International Airport.
The drugs was concealed in a luggage belonging to an Indonesian, who claims to have received the drugs from an intermediary in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
"We were suspicious of the suspect's movements. Once we searched his luggage, we found the evidence," said West Java BNNP's Head of Drug Eradication Sapta Rumboko during a press conference at Bandung's Customs and Excise office on Thursday, September 11, 2014.
The arrest began when customs officials became suspicious of NLS, a 34-years old passenger from an AirAsia flight from Kuala Lumpur to Bandung. Authorities then X-rayed NLS' luggage, which revealed 1.32 kg of methamphetamine concealed in a compartment of the luggage.
"The arrest happened before the suspect was due to hand over the evidence to his colleague in Bandung," said Sapta.
To date, West Java's BNNP has arrested three drug mules with alleged links to an international crime syndicate: LNS from Surabaya, NS from Jakarta, and ST from Makassar. From the suspects, authorities confiscated 1,70 kg of methamphetamine.
IQBAL T. LAZUARDI S.
