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span class="inline inline-left">Creative smuggling: A heroin smuggling suspect at Soekarno-Hatta International Airport shows customs officers how drug packages were hid inside the frames of calligraphy paintings during a press conference on Wednesday. The kilogram of heroin was valued roughly at Rp 2 billion. JP/Multa FidrusCustoms and Excise officers at Soekarno-Hatta International Airport have foiled an attempt to smuggle more than 1 kilogram of heroin worth Rp 2 billion (US$217,864) from Pakistan, and have arrested an Indonesian courier as a suspect in the case.

The airport’s customs office chief, Oza Olivia, said at a press conference on Wednesday that the heroin was concealed in the frames of several calligraphy paintings that had been sent through a delivery service company from Pakistan on Sunday addressed to a man with the initial A.

“Officers conducted an intense search of the frames and found 13 plastic bags containing brown powder. Laboratory tests later confirmed that the powder was heroin,” she said.

Customs officers and the police then checked the receiver’s address in Cipondoh, Tangerang and arrested a man called Musnah, 34, a store keeper.

Earlier last week, customs officers also confiscated 7.2 grams of crystal methamphetamine (sabu-sabu), worth Rp 14 million, from a Chinese citizen identified as GJ, 39, who had flown in from Fuzhou, China, on April 13. Officers also seized two sets of bong from the suspect.

Meanwhile, lawyer Henry Yosodiningrat, the chairman of the National Anti-Narcotics Movement (Granat), said the organization appreciated the customs officers’ successful attempts to prevent drugs being smuggled into the country.

“Drug smuggling is a crime against humanity. It is well organized and, therefore, we are committed to fighting drug abuse across the country,” Yosodiningrat said at the press conference.

He also said that Granat would facilitate any attempt by customs officers to curb drug smuggling and also promised to follow up foiled drug-smuggling cases until perpetrators in the case received prison terms or the death penalty.

“We are ready to provide legal advocacy for customs officers, offering professional lawyers to handle drug cases,” he said.

Drug smuggling violates Article 113 of the 2009 Narcotics Law. Violators may face the maximum sentence of death or a minimum of 20 years’ imprisonment.

Since January, officers have thwarted 17 drug-smuggling attempts through Soekarno-Hatta Airport, seizing a total of 3,749 grams of crystal methamphetamine; 1,040 grams of heroin; 628.5 grams of cocaine; 536 grams of levometorfan; 56 grams marijuana; and 341 ecstasy pills — worth a combined total of Rp 11 billion at street value.

Officers have arrested 21 Indonesians, a Malaysian, a Sierra Leonean and a Chinese national as suspects.