Suspects swallow crystal meth to pass check

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TANGERANG: Three men were arrested for allegedly trying to smuggle crystal methamphetamine through the Soekarno-Hatta International Airport by swallowing capsules filled with the drugs, an officer said Monday.

Customs and excise office chief at the airport, Oza Olivia, said that although the suspects took the same flight from Kuala Lumpur, they were members of two different groups.

They were identified as Y, 33, an Indonesian overseas worker and Jakartans EA, 36 and JA, 27. EA and JA were reportedly on the same team.

They arrived on July 2 and acted suspiciously, according to Oza. Officers from the Customs Tactical Unit (CTU) didn’t find anything on them, but detected the capsules in their stomachs by X-ray.

With the help of laxatives, officials removed three capsules containing 296 grams of crystal meth from EA and four capsules with 182 grams from JA. Suspect Y produced four capsules of 130 grams.

Detective Insp. Alamsyah Palupesi said Monday that the police had arrested two Indonesians who were supposed to pick up the drugs. “We are still tracking down the ring leader,” he said.