Aliens arrested with heroin

JAKARTA (JP): A Zimbabwean and a Beninese citizen have been arrested in the Plaza Indonesia shopping center, Central Jakarta, for allegedly attempting to sell 400 grams of heroin, police said yesterday.

Head of City Police narcotics unit, Lt. Col. H. Abdullah, said that the two, identified only as TM, 30, and IM, 35, were arrested Tuesday.

"They were arrested around 11 a.m. while they were having lunch at the Kentucky Fried Chicken restaurant in the plaza," Abdullah said.

He said the two were arrested as they were about to make a deal to sell 400 grams of heroin worth around Rp 150 million to an undercover detective.

"The two did not resist arrest," he said.

Abdullah said that the two foreigners had been staying in Jakarta for over a year. "They claimed to be working as electronics experts."

He said the two had allegedly been involved in the drug business for about a year.

Police officers were still questioning the two suspects about their contacts and involvement with drug rings here.

Abdullah said that the two would be charged under Article 82 of the 1997 Law No. 22 on Narcotics. The article carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in jail and a Rp 1 billion (US$100,000) fine. (cst)