During The Pandemic, Indonesia Is Still A Target Of Drug Circulation

The event of releasing evidence of drug trafficking by the joint team of the National Police and Customs and Excise (Photo: Rizki Aditya Pramana / VOI)

JAKARTA - The spread of COVID-19 is a problem in the world, including Indonesia. However, the conditions at that time were actually used by drug dealers to facilitate smuggling. However, the smuggling attempt was thwarted.

The disclosure of this case was carried out by a joint team between the National Police and Customs. At least 159 kilograms of crystal methamphetamine, 3,000 ecstasy pills and 5,300 H-5 items were confiscated from the joint activity.

Kabareskrim, Komjen Listyo Sigit, said that from the disclosure of this case the police had arrested five people and had been made suspects. They, ES, SD, US, SY and IR who are all Indonesian citizens.

"The international syndicate that we reveal this time is a network from China," Listyo said at the National Police Headquarters, Thursday, June 25.

This action was discovered when there was information on drug transactions at a welding workshop in the Bekasi area, West Java, on May 27, 2020. Then, the information was followed up and succeeded in arresting a suspect with the initials ES.

From the ES the police managed to confiscate 25 kilograms of crystal methamphetamine. Furthermore, a series of examinations and developments were carried out. From ES's admission, the prohibited items came from the Pekanbaru, Riau area.

Thus, redevelopment was carried out. On June 18, the team moved to Pekanbaru to arrest another suspect with the initials SD. Because, his name was referred to as delivery by the suspect ES.

"It was found from this elementary school student that evidence of methamphetamine drugs weighing 5 kilographs, 3000 ecstasy pills and 300 H5 items," said Listyo.

Transactions on board

When investigated further, the two suspects are members of an international network group. This is because the brains of the circulation are in Malaysia. Meanwhile, for the regulator of circulation in Indonesia, namely, a prisoner with the initials A.

From the intensive development and inspection, information emerged about the plan to smuggle hundreds of kilograms of crystal methamphetamine by sea. So, the team got ready because at the initial information the smuggling action would take place on June 21, evening.

"From the results of the deepening concerned, he carried out ship-to-ship transactions in Malaysian waters and was then brought into Indonesian waters near Aceh. From the results of the examination we found approximately 119 kilograms of crystal methamphetamine," said Listyo.

Even though he had arrested five suspects, Listyo said that his party was still developing the case. In addition, he stressed that his party will continue to suppress the circulation of narcotics because many groups are taking advantage of the COVID-19 situation to smooth their actions.

"We are able to really suppress the circulation of drugs, which in the last few months is quite rampant and take advantage of the COVID-19 pandemic situation to smuggle narcotics into our country," concluded Listyo.

Meanwhile, for their actions, the suspects were subject to Article 114 paragraph 2 in conjunction with Article 13 paragraph 2 of the Republic of Indonesia Law number 35 of 2009, subsidiary to Articles 112 and 115. The suspects were threatened with the death penalty.