hree members of a drug syndicate accused of smuggling 40 kilograms of crystal methamphetamine and 7,720 ecstasy pills into Indonesia were sentenced to death in two separate hearings in Pekanbaru, Riau.
Heri Kusnadi alias Ery Jack, who is reportedly affiliated with an international syndicate in Malaysia, was sentenced to death by the Bengkalis District Court, on Thursday. Meanwhile, Aldino Kofardo and Zulfadli, who were found to have acted as couriers for Ery, were given the death sentence in a hearing at the Siak District Court, on Wednesday.
During the hearing in Bengkalis, a panel of judges led by Sutarno declared Ery guilty beyond a reasonable doubt of committing a conspiracy to distribute type-1 drugs and narcotics.
According to witnesses, the defendant had smuggled crystal meth and ecstasy pills from Malaysia into Indonesia six times.
He smuggled 86-kg of crystal meth and 150,000 ecstasy pills into Indonesia via sea routes, the witnesses said in their testimonies.
“He has been proven guilty of violating articles 114 [2] and 132 [1] of Law No.35/2009 on narcotics,” Sutarno said.
Ery was also declared guilty of violating Article 112 (2) of the 2009 Narcotics Law. “He has [violated the law] by having been in possession of 11 grams of crystal meth. The evidence was confiscated by Riau Police personnel during a raid of his home,” said Sutarno.
Ery was arrested after the police apprehended Zulfadli and Aldino on a highway with 40- kg of crystal meth and thousands of ecstasy pills in April. During interrogation, they mentioned Ery’s name. (ebf)
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