T

he authorities confiscated on Friday 4 kilograms of crystal methamphetamine, known as shabu-shabu, and 11 kilograms of marijuana in Riau Islands and Yogyakarta

respectively.

On Friday morning, the Batam Ferry Center port's custom officials found 4 kilograms of shabu-shabu packed in an ice container regularly used to ship fresh seafood when checking packages from Malaysia.

The drug was discovered when two porters put the container through the X-ray machine.

Manual examinations turned up eight packages of crystal methamphetamine, each weighing a half kilogram, worth around Rp 6 billion (US$642,000).

Head of Batam, Rempang and Galang (Barelang) police narcotics division, Comr. Aris Andhi, told The Jakarta Post the custom officials and the police were working together on the case.

"The drug was shipped in the ferry. The names of the sender and the one who were supposed to accept it are already known," Aris said.

"The man who was supposed to receive the package is in our custody while the drugs are under further examination at the customs office."

The police arrested a man, an Indonesian living in Batam identified as Adnan bin Karman, who was supposed to receive the package.

The package was sent by a Malaysian identified as Rusli.

Head of the Custom Office's information system services unit, Iwan Kurniawan, said the police would further investigate the case.

Malaysia is one of Indonesia's illegal drug suppliers, with shipments regularly smuggled through Batam and other areas in the Riau Islands province.

Last month a Malaysian man was arrested for smuggling Ecstasy and crystal methamphetamine worth of Rp 5.5 billion at the International Ferry Port in Karimun, Riau Islands

In Yogyakarta, the police arrested drug dealer Sugeng Priyono who was caught with 11 kg of marijuana.

The 33-year-old suspect has been under police observation for a long time.

Sugeng was apprehended in Kranggan hamlet in Trisi village in Galur district, Kulonprogo regency.

The illegal drug was shipped from Jakarta through a travel service.

First unit head of Yogyakarta Police narcotics division, Adj. Sr. Comr. Marsudi, said Sugeng could be placed under custody following intelligence received by the police.

After a stakeout, Sugeng was arrested along with the evidence, a sealed package of marijuana.

"The shipment came from Jakarta through a courier service," Marsudi said.

"But since the drug was delivered through a cell system, the suspect did not directly meet and know the supplier."

Marsudi said the suspect was placed under police custody and the drug has been sent to forensic lab for examinations.

The drug, he said, was allegedly planned to be sold in small packages to the drug users in surrounding areas in Yogyakarta.

According to the 2009 Narcotics Law, which replaces the 1997 laws on narcotics and psychotropic substances, anyone found guilty of possessing a kilogram of marijuana would be sentenced to life.