1.9 Tonnes of Cyanide from the Philippines Smuggled into Gorontalo

Police have secured 39 sacks containing the hazardous chemical cyanide weighing 1.9 tonnes from a ship believed to be from the Philippines in the waters of North Gorontalo Regency, Gorontalo Province. The cyanide was hidden to resemble organic fertiliser. “Initially, there was a report from residents about a stranded ship. The dozens of sacks of cyanide were disguised with organic fertiliser,” said the Director of Polairud of the Gorontalo Provincial Police, Commissioner Devy Firmansyah, in his statement on Friday (24/4). For now, Firmansyah said, his side is still investigating the owner of the dangerous goods. This is because the ship’s crew had already fled before officers arrived. “Based on witness statements, the ship’s cargo was packed in white plastic sacks, and the owner of the goods is a man with initials LP who had visited the ship when it was stranded and taken some of the goods,” he revealed. The 39 sacks were then taken to a forensic laboratory. The results confirmed that the sacks contained cyanide compounds (CN). “We are delving into the truth of LP as a key party to request information regarding the ownership of the 39 sacks of cyanide transported using that ship,” he explained. In this case, Firmansyah said, investigators are applying Article 102 letter a of Law Number 17 of 2006 on Customs, with a penalty of 10 years imprisonment and a fine of Rp5 billion.