Custom break up 24 smuggling attempts this year

TANGERANG (JP): Customs and excise officials at Soekarno-Hatta International Airport have foiled 24 smuggling attempts so far this year, an official said on Friday.

The head of customs and excise at the airport's international terminal, Tonny Sunanto, said that the confiscated goods consisted of 115 weapons of different types, 1,884 pornographic video compact disks, 4.25 kilograms of heroin, two kilograms of shabu-shabu (an amphetamine-derivative), two yellow-crested cockatoos, 4,684 Viagra pills and Rp 5.27 billion in cash.

"These great successes were achieved thanks to the hard work of intelligence officers and the airport's X-ray machines," Tonny told reporters while displaying some of the seized items in his office.

He gave no details on when the smuggling attempts took place or the number of suspects arrested.

He only said that the 24 smuggling attempts had occurred since January.

The suspects, he said, included Indonesians, Singaporeans, South Koreans, Japanese, Saudis, Thais and Nigerians.

"All of the suspects have been handed over to police for further questioning," Tonny said.

The 115 seized weapons include 22 pistols, two rifles, a speargun for fish hunting and 90 weapons of various types, including canisters of tear gas.

He said the weapons were seized in 12 separate cases. They were discovered in the suspects' baggage, as well as in boxes sent by air courier.

The weapons were manufactured in the United States and several countries in Europe.

"The weapons were to be sold in Indonesia," he said.

He said the suspects were mostly locals. Also arrested were a number of South Koreans and Japanese who routinely visited Indonesia, particularly large cities such as Jakarta, Surabaya and Bandung.

"All the weapons will be handed over to police as evidence," Tonny said.

It is unclear why Tonny refused to give details on the suspected gun smugglers.

On Jan. 14 this year, his office announced 42 pistols and six spearguns had been confiscated in 19 smuggling attempts since April last year.

Tonny also said in late December last year that customs officials had seized 412 replicas of common weapons and 15 paint ball guns.

On both occasions, he refused to provide details on the suspects or the cases. (41/bsr)