Drug syndicate suspects arrested at airport

Drug syndicate suspects arrested at airport

JAKARTA (JP): City police have arrested five people, including
a husband and wife, believed to be members of a drug syndicate,
an officer said on Thursday.

Jakarta Police detective chief Col. Alex Bambang Riatmodjo
said they were arrested separately thanks to a tip-off from
customs and excise officials at Soekarno-Hatta International
Airport.

He identified the suspects as Robert Lauha and his wife Elly,
Chris Welly, Ronny Wijaya and E.S.

Alex was noncommittal on why only one of the suspects was
identified by initials.

"We're still building the case," the officer said.

Alex said Chris was arrested late last month by customs and
excise officials for allegedly possessing 10 grams of shabu-shabu
(crystal methamphetamine), 32 ecstasy pills and eight sets of
shabu-shabu inhalers.

Head of customs and excise Tonny Sunanta said Chris was
subsequently detained by the city police for further questioning.

Tonny also revealed officials found rubber pipes, used for
consuming the drugs, and cash totaling Rp 19 million (US$2,330)
in Chris' bag. Police have confiscated the items.

"Chris was leaving for Yogyakarta when he was arrested," Tonny
said.

Police detectives questioned Chris, who informed them about
the whereabouts of suspected drug dealers.

"The latest arrest was made of E.S. on Tuesday at his house,"
Alex said.

All suspects, attired in dark blue prisoner outfits, were
presented to journalists on Thursday.

Several minutes later, Robert and Elly were spotted by some of
the reporters getting into a sedan, which left the city police
detectives unit under the escort of a plainclothes officer.

When asked later, Alex responded the reporters must have
mistaken them for a different couple. (emf)