Drugs, BlackBerrys seized at airport
The Jakarta Post | Fri, 12/03/2010 11:40 AM
TANGERANG: The Customs and Excise Office at the Soekarno-Hatta International Airport has arrested six men for smuggling BlackBerrys and drugs.
The customs authority said Tuesday that the six men — two Indonesians, an Iranian and three Chinese — were arrested for smuggling large quantities of BlackBerry smartphones and crystal methamphetamine (shabu-shabu).
“We have seized 569 BlackBerrys worth Rp 1.5 billion [US$166,500] and 355 grams of crystal methamphetamine,” customs office head Bahaduri Wijayanta said.
The two Indonesians flew Garuda Indonesia from Singapore to Jakarta on Nov. 18, and failed to get past a baggage screening.
“When we opened their luggage, officers found 489 BlackBerrys that were not reported on their declaration forms,” Bahaduri said.
On Dec. 1, officers again seized BlackBerrys, this time 80 in total being transported by three Chinese men who had arrived from Hong Kong aboard a China Airlines flight.
On the same day, customs officers arrested an Iranian for carrying 355 grams of crystal methamphetamine worth Rp 532 million.
The suspect had flown from Damascus to Jakarta on a Qatar Airways flight. — JP
