TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Indonesian Police tackled an attempt of a drug courier to smuggle 1.5 kilograms of crystal methamphetamine from Malaysia into the coastal city of Batam, Riau Islands Province.

The suspect, only identified by his initial as T, was an illegal Indonesian migrant worker in Malaysia. He received the crystal meth package from a male resident of the neighboring country, the Riau Islands Police spokesman, Sen. Coms. S. Erlangga, stated.

Conversing with journalists in Batam on Friday, Erlangga noted that the Malaysian drug dealer, only identified by his initials as BT, had been added to the Indonesian police's wanted list.

T, who might belong to an international drug ring, was arrested shortly after arriving at the Terih Beach, Sambau, in Nongsa Sub-district, Batam City, on Thursday evening, after the police received a tip-off on the suspect.

The police investigators confiscated two bags of crystal meth, weighing 1.5 kilograms, as well as a cellular phone and an ID card from the suspect.

In early November, the Jakarta Metropolitan Police also unearthed a Malaysia-Pekanbaru-Jakarta drug ring following a series of raids during which four suspects were arrested and 21 kilograms of crystal methamphetamine, or sabu-sabu, were seized.

The police investigators busted this transnational drug syndicate after they apprehended a drug courier in Serpong, Tangerang, Banten Province, Jakarta Metropolitan Police spokesman Sen. Coms. Argo Yuwono stated.

The drug courier's arrest had led the police investigators to Pekanbaru, the capital city of Riau Province, for further probe into a tip-off hinting at the presence of a package of crystal meth smuggled from Malaysia into Indonesia, he remarked.

Indonesia remains under grave threat from drug traffickers, as several individuals from its working-age population have become embroiled in a vicious circle.

The National Narcotics Agency's (BNN's) report on some 50 Indonesians dying of drug use daily has failed to put off addicts.

People across communities and distinct socio-economic and cultural backgrounds use crystal methamphetamine, narcotics, marijuana, and other addictive drugs.

ANTARA