A Nigerian prisoner is suspected to be the leader of an international drug ring, police said Monday after receiving information from a recently arrested drug dealer.

"We will go to Cipinang Penitentiary to question the suspect, Collien, soon after we speak with the South Jakarta Police chief and the city police drug division," Jagakarsa subprecinct police chief Comr. U. Tanang said.

Last week, Jagakarsa Police arrested three drug suspects, Taufik Hidayat, Achmad Yusuf and Steven Patar Nagoan, at three different locations in South Jakarta.

Taufik was arrested at Pasar Minggu carrying 0.2 grams of heroin. He told the police he got the drugs from Achmad.

In the same week, police arrested Achmad, who was found with two kilograms of marijuana in his house in Tanjung Barat. Achmad said he bought the marijuana from Steven.

The police later arrested Steven, who was allegedly found with ten grams of heroin and five grams of crystal methamphetamine in his house in Kampung Srengseng.

"Steven told us he called Collien's mobile phone every time he wanted to make an order. He would later deal with a middleman called Daeng, who is still at large," said Jagakarsa subprecinct head of drug division First. Adj. Insp. Bambang Irianto.

Bambang said the three arrested suspects had formerly been convicted for drug-related crimes and had served time in two prisons in the country.

He said Steven was released from Nusakambangan Penitentiary in Cilacap, Central Java, in February, while Achmad and Steven were recently released from Cipinang.

"Apparently, they had not learnt their lesson," he said.

Tanang said the three suspects violated a 1997 law on drug abuse and could be imprisoned for ten years.(ind)

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