Two more Iranians nabbed for smuggling drugs at airport
Multa Fidrus, The Jakarta Post, Tangerang, Banten | Mon, 03/07/2011
Customs and excise officers at the Soekarno-Hatta International Airport have arrested two more Iranians for smuggling 2,160 grams crystal methamphetamine (shabu-shabu) worth Rp 3.2 billion (US$363.300) from Tehran.
Airport customs office chief Iyan Rubiantom identified the suspects as AAF, 28, an insurance company employee in Tehran and AAS, 35, who is reportedly unemployed.
“The two suspects flew from Tehran to Jakarta on Emirates flight EK-358 and arrived at terminal II on Sunday evening,” Iyan told reporters in a press confrence on Monday.
Officers in charge of observing arriving passengers at the terminal became suspicious because the suspects, who were on their first trip to Indonesia, looked nervous.
“Scanning device at the check points identified no strange objects hidden in their luggage.
Officers then conducted body search and found the drug hidden in their underwear,” he said, adding that both suspects testified that they were asked by a man called Hasan to bring the drugs to Jakarta.
Hasan promised them US$5,000 each should they manage to deliver the drugs to someone in Jakarta.
AAF claimed that he was hoping to bring the drugs to Jakarta because he owed US$20,000 to someone in Tehran, while AAS said that he did it because had no job.
The suspects and the drug evidence were handed over to the police for further case development.
Airport police chief Sr. Comr. Tornagogo promised to investigate whether or not the suspects are part of drug syndicate ring that the police have already uncovered in a number of drug smuggling cases across the country.
“We will track down the drug syndicate ring. The suspects know each other, although they did not sit together on the plane,” he said.
Drug smuggling is a violation of Article 113 of the 2009 law on narcotics. Violators face a maximum punishment of a 15 year jail term and a Rp 10 billion fine.
Since January, customs officers have foiled eight drug smuggling attempts at the airport and have arrested five Iranians, a Frenchman, a Philipino and a Taiwanese. Officer have seized a total of 10,331 grams shabu-shabu and 1,044 grams catamine worth Rp 16.5 billion.
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