Smuggling Of Marijuana To Celebrate Wife's Birthday, US Citizen Arrested

Police officers when examining a package containing an envelope of marijuana and a bottle of liquid that still has crystalline form in Lembar, West Lombok, NTB (Photo: Antara)

JAKARTA - An American citizen with the initials JD, was arrested by the police for smuggling marijuana to Lombok, West Nusa Tenggara, on the grounds of celebrating his wife's birthday party.

"The person concerned was arrested in the Sheet area, West Lombok Regency, this afternoon, at around 12.30 WIT," said the Head of the Regional Police of the NTB Police, Kombes Pol Helmi Kwarta Kusuma Putra Rauf, as reported by Antara, Mataram, Friday, November 6.

The arrest of JD by the joint team of the NTB Regional Police with the Mataram Police was the result of the development of the JD driver's travel surveillance, with the initials LS.

Three hours before picking up JD in Sheet, said Helmi, LS with his vehicle had stopped at one of the expedition services in Mataram City. From there, LS was observed to take the package.

"So the arrest was carried out when the driver came to pick him up," he said.

From the location of his arrest in a supermarket in Lembar area, their four-wheeled vehicle was searched. As a result, it was found that a package of goods contained six envelopes of marijuana and three bottles of liquid which still contained crystalline granules.

"This evidence is in a backpack that is stored in the car," he said.

LS officers admitted that the evidence belonged to JD. Before picking up JD, LS admitted that he was told to stop by one of the expedition services in Mataram to pick up the package.

Next, the joint team moved to JD's temporary house in the Sekotong area, West Lombok Regency. However, from that place, the police did not find any evidence related to drugs.

Furthermore, both of them and their evidence have now been secured at the NTB Regional Police Headquarters. Regarding the liquid that still has crystalline granules, Helmi cannot confirm the type.

"We first check with the experts to confirm the narcotics content," he said.

From a temporary inspection, JD to the officer was reluctant to admit his ownership of the item. But he insisted that the item belonged to his wife according to the destination of the package delivery.

"He said it was sent by his in-laws, a birthday present for his wife, he said he wanted a party," said Helmi.