Custom break up 24 smuggling attempts this year
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)