Portuguese Man Arrested in Indonesia for Smuggling 2,500 Grams Liquid Cocaine in Shampoo Bottles
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26 March 2024 04:21 WIB
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Indonesia’s Soekarno-Hatta Customs and Excise officers arrested a Portuguese foreign national (WNA) for attempting to smuggle cocaine-type narcotics. The man, with the initials 'RP', 22 years old, tried to smuggle 2,500 grams of liquid cocaine hidden in shampoo bottles.
Airport Customs enforcement and investigation chief Zaky Firmansyah said on Monday that RP was arrested when he arrived at Terminal 3 of Soekarno-Hatta Airport last Sunday, March 17. He arrived on board flight EK 358 from Lisbon Airport (LIS) with a stopover at Dubai International (DXB).
His suspicious behavior caught the attention of customs officials. When his luggage was searched, the officers became curious about two bottles of shampoo and a bottle of soap which, when opened, emitted a chemical odor different from that of normal shampoo or body was.
Further testing revealed that the solution inside the bottles "tested positive for a Class I narcotic of the type cocaine," Zaky said.
RP told authorities he was traveling alone and that it was his first time in Indonesia, planning to go to Bali for a week's vacation. He claimed that he did not own the drugs and that he was given them without knowing what they contained.
"He said the drugs were given to him 3 hours before his flight by someone he didn't know," Zaki said.
RP claimed that he was introduced to the owner of the goods by his friend in Portugal. He was offered 6,000 euros to deliver the goods to Bali.
"RP said he was given a ticket to fly to Bali, departing at 17:05 later that day. He was also given paid accommodation in the Pecatu area," Zaki said.
RP and evidence have been handed over to the Jakarta Metro Police Narcotics Crime Unit for further investigation. He is charged with violating Law 35/2009 on Narcotics, which carries a maximum penalty of death or life imprisonment.
JONIANSYAH
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