Ahead Of Eid Al-Fitr, 42 Kg Of Marijuana Confiscated By Malang Police

Malang City Police Chief Kombes Pol Budi Hermanto (central) showed evidence of marijuana at a press conference at Malang City Police Headquarters, East Java, Tuesday (9/4/2024). (ANTARA)

Malang City Police (Polresta) thwarted the circulation of 42 kilograms (Kg) of marijuana confiscated from a courier with the initials MS aged 27 years from Sidoarjo Regency, East Java.

Malang City Police Chief Kombes Pol Budi Hermanto, said the suspect was arrested on April 4, 2024 at the exit of the Warugunung toll road, Karangpiliang District, Surabaya City.

"The suspect was arrested at the Warugunung toll exit with eight large packs placed in a suitcase," said Buher, his nickname, quoted by ANTARA, Tuesday, April 9.

Buher explained that the suspect was a drug courier who had delivered dried marijuana three times to a number of areas in East Java. The arrest of the suspect MS was the result of the development of the Malang City Police Narcotics Unit.

According to him, the disclosure began when the Malang City Police arrested a marijuana dealer with the initials YL who was carrying 1 kilogram of illicit goods in March 2024.

"Then the officers carried out developments and received information that there would be a shipment of marijuana," he said.

On that occasion, the Head of the Malang City Police Narcotics Unit, Kompol Harjanto Mukti Eko Utomo, added that information on the delivery of marijuana types was carried out from the Aceh region to Malang City.

According to him, from the results of the investigation, the Malang City Police Narcotics Unit received information that there would be marijuana shipments on April 2, 2024. Marijuana from Aceh, sent by land.

"After being investigated, members carried out disguises, including following suspects from the Sumatra region to the trans Java toll road. Finally, we took action at the Warugunung toll exit," he said.

He added that officers stopped the bus the suspect was traveling in at the Warugunung toll gate and then arrested the suspect MS.

Officers confiscated a number of evidences in the form of eight large packets of marijuana that were placed in a suitcase.

Based on the suspect's statement, he continued, the perpetrator had sent marijuana from Aceh three times, namely in February 36 kilograms were sent to the Kediri area, Trenggalek and then Malang City.

In the second shipment as much as 36 kilograms, and distributed to Jombang, Sidoarjo and then to Malang City. The 42 kilograms of evidence is planned to be circulated after the celebration of Eid al-Fitr 1445 Hijriah.

"With this arrest, we saved approximately 8,400 lives," he said.

The suspect was charged with Article 114 paragraph (2) and/or Article 111 paragraph (2) of Law Number 35 of 2009 concerning Narcotics, with the threat of a maximum penalty of death with a maximum fine of IDR 10 billion.