Drug smuggler arrested

JAKARTA (JP): Soekarno-Hatta International Airport Customs and Excise officers have arrested a South African man for smuggling 320 grams of morphine into Indonesia.

The customs and excise office's chief, Nisfu Chasbullah, said his officers along with quarantine officers, arrested Lombane Cosbane, 31, on Jan. 8.

"The morphine was packed in 25 capsules. The suspect swallowed 11 capsules and kept the remaining 14 capsules in his jeans," Nisfu said yesterday.

He said Lombane collapsed at the airport after arriving from Bangkok via Singapore. "Some of the capsules probably leaked causing him to collapse."

Nisfu said the suspect was sent to the Kramat Jati Police Hospital. "The doctors at the hospital forced the suspect to vomit the remaining capsules in his stomach."

He said his officers suspected the suspect suffered a heart attack but then found the capsules in his jeans.

"The suspect was handed over to the National Police," said Nisfu. (jun)