Singaporean arrested for drug smuggling<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Customs officials at Soekarno-Hatta
\nInternational Airport have arrested a Singaporean man for
\nallegedly smuggling 4.106 kilograms of methamphetamine, the main
\ningredient of Ecstasy.<\/p>\n
The acting chief of the customs office, Soemarjono, said
\nyesterday that Lee Keh Wan, 47, was arrested Saturday evening
\nwithin minutes of arriving from Guangzhou, in China, on China
\nSouthern Airlines flight number 387.<\/p>\n
The Singaporean, who had allegedly packed the drugs in his
\nsuitcase, aroused the attention of customs officials because he
\nlooked nervous, Soemarjono said.<\/p>\n
\"The illegal drug crystals were wrapped in black aluminum foil
\nand packed in nine small pouches, all stitched to the bottom of
\nhis suitcase.\"<\/p>\n
The crystals have an estimated street value of Rp 2.4 billion
\n(US$665,000) and one kilogram of the drug can be used to produce
\nat least 600,000 Ecstasy pills, he said.<\/p>\n
Customs officials also seized Lee's passport and some cash,
\nincluding Singaporean dollars.<\/p>\n
Soemarjono said the suspect appeared anxious as he approached
\nthe X-ray scanner, prompting officials to stop him and inspect
\nhis luggage.<\/p>\n
The scanner allegedly detected nine pouches inside the
\nsuspect's suitcase and officials later identified the white
\ncrystals inside the pouches as sabu-sabu or methamphetamine.<\/p>\n
The drug can be used as the main ingredient of Ecstasy pills
\nor used directly by inhaling smoke from the burning crystals, he
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
Soemarjono alleged that preliminary investigations had
\nsuggested that Lee may be a member of an international drug
\nsyndicate because he continually tried to bribe customs officials
\nwith Rp 50 million.<\/p>\n
\"Moreover, our office has received threats from a number of
\nmysterious callers,\" he said, adding that he and his officers
\nwere undeterred.<\/p>\n
Lee is undergoing further questioning at National Police
\nHeadquarters in South Jakarta.<\/p>\n
A total of 21 foreigners have been arrested for drug-related
\ncrimes in the capital this year. (41\/bsr)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/singaporean-arrested-for-drug-smuggling-1447893297",
"image": ""
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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