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BNN busts drug syndicates with links to China, Nigeria
Masked parade: Police officers guard 10 drug suspects at the National Narcotics Agency (BNN) office on Tuesday
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Masked parade: Police officers guard 10 drug suspects at the National Narcotics Agency (BNN) office on Tuesday. The agency said it had busted three major drug syndicates with links to China and Nigeria. (JP/Dhoni Setiawan) (BNN) office on Tuesday. The agency said it had busted three major drug syndicates with links to China and Nigeria. (JP/Dhoni Setiawan)
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span class="inline inline-none">Masked parade: Police officers guard 10 drug suspects at the National Narcotics Agency (BNN) office on Tuesday. The agency said it had busted three major drug syndicates with links to China and Nigeria. (JP/Dhoni Setiawan)
The National Narcotics Agency (BNN) has uncovered three drug syndicates operating in the country, two of which are suspected of having cooperated with major drug smugglers from China and Nigeria.
BNN eradication deputy Brig. Gen. Deddy Fauzi Elhakim said on Tuesday the discovery was based on the agency's raids in the Lampung capital of Banda Lampung; in Bekasi, West Java; and in Parepare, South Sulawesi, earlier this month.
In the raids BNN detectives managed to seize 7.5 kilograms of crystal methamphetamine, known locally as shabu-shabu.
The latest raid took place on April 7, when BNN arrested a suspect, identified only by his initials of IR or DO, for carrying 5.6 kilograms of shabu-shabu at Nusantara Port in Parepare.
'The drugs likely came from Nunukan [a regency in North Kalimantan]. Nunukan Port is known to be a strategic destination for major drug dealers from Guangzhou, China,' Deddy told a press conference at BNN headquarters in East Jakarta.
Deddy, quoting an investigation by China's drug agency, said Chinese drug dealers usually sailed to waters between China and Indonesia before transporting the drugs to middlemen on fishing boats.
Meanwhile in Bekasi, a husband and wife ' the owners of a small food stall ' were taken into custody on April 6 for allegedly distributing illegal drugs.
It is alleged that the couple, identified as SP, 54, and H, 46, cooperated with four other drug dealers in running their illicit business.
The accomplices are a 34-year-old man, identified as F; a middle-aged woman, identified as I; a Nigerian identified as UK and his former wife, F.
From these individuals, the BNN confiscated 901.7 grams of crystal methamphetamine.
'Many Indonesian women are willing to be married to foreigners who are clearly criminals. The women are utilized as drug dealers by their husbands. Why do the women want to help foreigners ruining their own country with drugs?' Deddy said.
In another case, the BNN arrested three drug dealers, identified as TM, BU and JU, for attempting to transport one kilogram of crystal methamphetamine from Medan, North Sumatra to Bandar Lampung on April 2.
TM first met JU while they were serving their terms in a prison. In 2006, TM was sentenced to 10 years' imprisonment for smuggling 300 kilograms of marijuana. JU was jailed for eight months for his drug addiction.
According to JU's testimony, TM promised to give Rp 20 million (US$1,740) if he succeeded in making his first drug delivery.
According to Deddy, all the suspects from the three drug syndicates face capital punishment or life imprisonment under the 2009 Narcotics Law.
