Police are investigating a new drug trade practice of using mosques to securely store sabu-sabu (crystal methamphetamine).

The practice was uncovered after the police arrested a man they called D on June 27 in a parking lot of a fast food restaurant in Pondok Pucung, Pondok Aren district, South Tangerang, where he allegedly planned to carry out a transaction.

Police claim they confiscated 12.5 grams of meth from the suspect.

The police said they discovered that he had kept the meth in a mosque in Cinere, Depok, West Java.

D was reportedly only assigned to pick up the meth from the toilet of the mosque on Wednesday at 9.30 p.m. by a man that police identified as Ali, who is still at large.

Police said on the next day D went to the restaurant parking lot to hand the meth over to another unknown person. At that moment the Cilandak Police arrested D.

"Yes, that's what we've been investigating: There's a drug smuggling practice [using mosques as pickup points]," said Cilandak Police chief Sr. Comr. Kasto Subki as quoted by kompas.com on Tuesday.

Police said they would charge D with violating Article 114(1) of Law No. 35/2019, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison. (tru)