Indonesian police confiscate over 70 kg of illicit drugs

24/10/2024 6:18

        Indonesian police have confiscated over 70 kg of methamphetamine in three separate raids in South Kalimantan province since late September, officials said on Wednesday.
        Five suspects have been arrested, the National Police's Narcotics Division chief Mukti Juharsa said in a statement, adding that the suspects were allegedly linked to a major drug syndicate led by Indonesian national Fredy Pratama, who remains at large.
        The initial raid, the police said, was carried out by officers on Sept. 26 in a hotel in the northern part of Banjarmasin city where around 9 kg of crystal meth was seized from a suspect.
        The suspect reportedly had the meth from someone identified with the initials MM who is believed as the henchman of Pratama. Investigators later received prior intelligence about a drug trafficking scheme arranged by MM, who is still at large.
        On Oct. 8 in the north of Banjarmasin, officers arrested two suspects who allegedly trafficked 50 packs of meth weighing around 50 kg and more than 9,000 ecstasy pills with a car.
        Police also arrested a man who allegedly built a hidden storage inside the car for the illicit drugs and another suspect on Oct. 10 in the east of Banjarmasin with a total of 10 packs of meth weighing 10 kg.
        Under Indonesian drug laws, those involved in drug-related crimes face severe penalties, ranging from a five-year imprisonment sentence to the death penalty.