Police thwart the smuggling of 1.9 tons of cyanide from the Philippines in Gorontalo

GORONTALO - The Directorate of Maritime and Air Police (Ditpolairud) of the Gorontalo Regional Police (Polda) thwarted 39 sacks containing 1.9 tons of cyanide-type hazardous chemicals, which were suspected of being smuggled from the Philippines through the Sulawesi Sea waters, North Gorontalo Regency.

Director of Polairud Gorontalo Police, Police Commissioner Besar Devy Firmansyah, said the disclosure of this case began with a report from the public about a fiber panboat type ship named SAR.01.1824 that was stranded in Motihelumo Village, East Sumalata District, North Gorontalo, yesterday Monday.

"The ship was found in a state of shipwreck due to engine damage and when inspected it was loaded with dozens of sacks disguised with organic fertilizer labels, but the actual contents were suspected of being cyanide," said Devy, quoted by Antara, Friday, April 24.

To determine the type of goods, investigators conducted tests at the North Sulawesi Police Forensic Laboratory on Wednesday (15/4) and the results showed that the white grains were positive for cyanide (CN).

The evidence seized was a ship and 39 sacks of cyanide weighing 50 kilograms each, so it is estimated that the total weight reached 1.9 tons.

The modus operandi in this case is that the perpetrators deliberately put cyanide into a sack of fertilizer packaging to deceive the officers.

After conducting further development and investigation, investigators managed to identify a man with the initials LP alias Ko Lexi as the owner of the illegal goods.

According to the witness's statement, before the officers arrived, LP had visited the location of the ship that was stranded and transported some of the goods using an open truck.

Until now, investigators from the Gorontalo Police's Ditpolairud have coordinated with personnel from the Ditintelkam, Ditreskrimum, Ditreskrimsus, Customs and Excise Office and Immigration Office to pursue the LP, the mudi and the three crew members of the ship who had previously managed to escape when the ship sank.

Investigators at the Gorontalo Police Ditpolairud have applied layered articles, including Law Number 17 of 2006 concerning Customs with a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison, the Shipping Law, the Trade Law, and the Consumer Protection Law.

"In this case, there is a crime of transporting dangerous goods without a permit, customs violations, to manipulating the packaging label. Until now, the investigation process is still continuing to pursue those responsible," he added.