Police Arrest Drug Courier Working as Online Ojek Driver

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Police have uncovered a drug distribution syndicate involving an online ojek (motorcycle taxi) driver. The driver is known to have two applications; Grab and Gojek.

"The evidence we have confiscated are methamphetamine and marijuana," said Chief of the Drug Unit of the South Jakarta Resort Police Vivick Tjangkung on Thursday, April 11, 2019.

Vivick said that the Police first arrested Adhe Ferdana Putra (28) at a boarding house in Pasar Minggu area, South Jakarta on Tuesday, April 9, 2019. During the arrest, Police confiscated 68 grams of methamphetamine and 43.7 grams of marijuana. Adhe confessed that he had worked as an online ojek driver for three years.

"A search [of Adhe's room] also revealed a digital scale," Vivick said.

Vivick suspected that Adhe has become a drug courier for quite some time based on his observation on how Adhe neatly packs the drugs. "But he said he had only done it six times," he explained.

Following Adhe's arrest, the Police arrest another suspect, Mochamad Taufik (38) on Wednesday evening, April 10, 2019, in Johar Baru, Central Jakarta. During the second arrest, the Police discovered 1.2 kilograms of methamphetamine stored in a baby formula package, a box, and a mobile phone holster.

"The second suspect is also a courier, he is an employee, and said to have only made 10 transactions," the police said.

Vivick explained that both suspects only pick up drugs randomly based on instructions from the distributor. Both suspects admitted that they had never met with the distributor.

IMAM HAMDI