In a press conference on Friday, head of the subdirectorate of public relations and customs counseling, Hatta Wardhana, said some of the methamphetamine had been smuggled in boxes of guan yin wang tea from China. The boxes, containing a total of 72 kg of methamphetamine, are thought to be part of a drug smuggling scheme by a Malaysian syndicate. Other modes included stuffing 200 g of methamphetamine in capsule form inside packaged drinks and putting 390 g of methamphetamine and 30 g of heroin in bags of chips or other snacks.

Another case of interest was the discovery of a clandestine laboratory that produced synthetic cannabinoid tobacco. The crackdown started with the interception of 3,740 g of synthetic cannabinoid powder, which was then transferred by the Customs and Excise Directorate General to the Jakarta Police.

A joint team consisting of subdirectorate I of Ditresnarkoba PMJ, the Directorate of Interdiction of Narcotics at the Customs and Excise Directorate General and the Soekarno-Hatta Airport Customs & Excise Office raided an apartment in East Jakarta, where they found a laboratory for synthetic cannabinoid tobacco production. The owners of the ingredients and tools found in the facility could be charged under Law No. 35/2009 on narcotics and, if found guilty, could face death sentences, life in prison or twenty years in prison with a maximum penalty of Rp 10 billion (US$67,000) plus one third of that figure if the evidence exceeds 1 kg.

Meanwhile, the Customs and Excise Bandung Office and the West Java branch of the BNN worked with an expedition company to thwart a delivery of marijuana bound for Lembang, West Bandung regency.

“On June 16, our joint forces managed to stop the delivery of a package containing 1.6 kg of marijuana-type narcotics, psychotropics and precursor (NPP),” said Hatta.

Regional authorities were tipped off by the Batam Customs and Excise Office about a shipment of marijuana from Medan to Lembang. The Bandung Customs and Excise Office and the West Java Regional Customs and Excise Office contacted the delivery service to check the suspected package with sniffer dogs. After a document analysis and a response from the K9 unit, officers tested the contents of the package to determine that it was indeed carrying marijuana.

“Then, along with the Bandung Police, we headed to the receiver’s address, but there was no one on the spot. We’ve decided to wait until the receiver calls the expedition company regarding the pick-up. The rest will be handled by the Bandung Police to track down the senders and receivers and the detailed mode of delivery,” Hatta said.

Hatta emphasized that the Customs and Excise Directorate General strove to fulfill its role as a community protector by monitoring and taking action against the circulation of narcotics in Indonesia.

Popular

Russia and Ukraine complete largest prisoner swap

Macron's office downplays plane incident with wife

Reform era draws to a close