Inmate acting as drug dealer: Police

Inmate acting as drug dealer: Police

Evi Mariani, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

A Nigerian prison inmate here had been acting as a middleman,
despite his incarceration, between an international drug
syndicate and local buyers, a police officer revealed on
Thursday.

Jakarta Police chief of narcotics division, Adj. Sr. Comr.
Anjan T. Putra, said that Chidi alias Kingsley, 27, who is
currently serving a 7.5-year term at Tangerang Penitentiary for
drug dealing, was likely the contact person between foreign and
local distributors.

"Kingsley still uses his cellular phone. He arranges
transactions, but the drugs never enter the prison," Anjan told
reporters after questioning Kingsley at the police headquarters.

He declined to reveal whether the police would investigate
further into possible collusion with the penitentiary wardens.

The investigation into Kingsley was based on statements given
by two men who were separately arrested this month for heroin
possession.

Both said they had a business relationship with Kingsley.

Anjan said Kingsley had also been questioned on Feb. 16, as
his name was mentioned by Rina Sandi, who was arrested for
carrying 50 grams of heroin.

"This is the second such charge and if he has a third, then
Kingsley could face the death penalty," he remarked.

The price of one gram of heroin is about Rp 400,000 (US$47).