Father and son arrested for drug trafficking

JAKARTA (JP): A father and his son were arrested for the possession of 1.3 tons of dried marijuana with a street-value of Rp 2.6 billion (US$247,600), the police announced on Monday.

The head of detectives at the National Police's narcotics unit, Brig. Gen. Wilhelmus Laturette, said the suspects, identified as Sumadi, 49, and his 21-year-old son, who police refused to identify, were arrested in a raid in Karet Tengsin, Central Jakarta, on Saturday.

The two men are natives of Aceh, which is known to be home to large marijuana plantations, most of which are located in the province's outlying forests.

"During police questioning the suspects admitted they transported marijuana from Aceh to Jakarta at least five times," Wilhelmus said at National Police Headquarters.

Wilhelmus said the marijuana, which was found in 26 sacks, was transported to Jakarta in a truck.

"On top, they covered the sacks (of marijuana) with plenty of bananas. Police received information that Sumadi distributed drugs. We checked it out, and sure enough, we found the drugs," Wilhelmus said.

He added that Sumadi and his son also confessed to having received Rp 8 million from Acehnese drug suppliers for moving the marijuana to the capital.

"They were promised Rp 100 million. The money they already received was only the down payment."

In October last year, police in the capital arrested another Aceh native for the possession of 160 kilograms of marijuana. The suspect, identified as Marjuki Yakup, 25, was shot in the leg when he resisted arrest near his residence in Lenteng Agung district, South Jakarta. (ylt)