The National Narcotics Agency (BNN) in South Sulawesi has uncovered a drugs ring controlled from inside the Makassar First Class Penitentiary, allegedly involving prisoners and guards.

The BNN have named four suspects in the case. They have been identified only as MT, 35, a prison guard; KD, 32, a prisoner who is also a drug dealer; and two buyers; FR, 25, and his girlfriend EJ, 18. The four suspects are being detained in detention facilities at BNN South Sulawesi.

The agency's head, Richard Nainggolan, said the BNN broke up the network thanks to reports from informants who suspected MT, who, they claimed, frequently went in and out of the Makassar prison to meet people outside the facility.

'We received information at around 2 p.m. local time, on Wednesday, and we carried out an observation. At 4 p.m. we caught MT red-handed making a transaction with FR and EJ, not far from the prison. We took them into custody,' said Richard.

He said during the raid, BNN officers confiscated 1.12 grams of crystal methamphetamine, known locally as shabu-shabu, and a receipt of a payment into KD's bank account.

Based on investigations, it was revealed that FR bought the drug from KD, who was convicted in a drug case and is still being detained at the Makassar prison.

'During a raid we jointly conducted with the prison guards in KD's cell, we found 22 grams of shabu-shabu, seven ecstasy pills, a cell phone, a bank book, plastic sachets, aluminum foil and pyrex,' said Richard.

He said BNN officers were investigating the case to discover other members of the network and in particular the drug suppliers. (ebf)

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