3 Malaysians arrested at airport carrying 9 kg crystal meth

The Jakarta Post, Tangerang Wed, 05/25/2011

Customs officers have reportedly foiled three attempts to smuggle drugs into Indonesia at Soekarno-Hatta International Airport, confiscating a total of 9 kilograms of crystal methamphetamine worth an estimated Rp 15 billion.

“Officers also arrested three Malaysian-Chinese citizens as suspects in the smuggling attempts on Tuesday,” airport customs chief Iyan Rubianto said Wednesday.

Iyan said two of the suspects, identified as KLS, 20, and PSH, 28, had flown from Kuala Lumpur onboard AirAsia flight AK-388, while another suspect, STH, 40, arrived at the airport onboard AirAsia flight QZ-7695 the same day.

Following a profile analysis, the Tactical Unit Team at terminal II had suspected the three were carrying drugs.

“Officers decided to search their luggage and found 3 kilograms of crystal methamphetamine wrapped in food containers,” he said.

In a development of the case involving officers of the National Narcotics Agency (BNN), customs officers also arrested two more Malaysian-Chinese citizens identified as LCG, 32, and WSP, 49, at a location not far from the airport.

“Based on the modus they used in the smuggling attempts, we believe LCG and WSP were the owners of the drugs,” he said, adding that LCG and WSP had given the drug to KLS and PSH in Kuala Lumpur before flying to Jakarta.

STH, who allegedly worked at palm plantation in Malaysia, said he was asked to carry the drug to Jakarta from Kuala Lumpur by another Malaysian man identified as A, and was promised MRY1,000.

KLS and PSH, who also worked at palm plantation said that they had been offered vacation in Jakarta by old friends LCG and KSL through a telephone conversation, and were given MRY700 each.

Drug busts have seen a steady increase at Jakarta’s main airport this year.

Since January, officers have foiled 26 smuggling attempts and seized a total of 64,272 grams of drugs, worth an estimated Rp 71.7 billion, comprising 36,028 grams crystal methamphetamine, 28,194 grams of ketamine and 10,140 ecstasy pills.

Officers have also arrested 10 Iranians, four Indonesians, four Malaysians, two Nigerians, two Taiwanese, one French man, a Filipino, a Kenyan, a Portuguese and an Italian as suspects in these cases.