Italian to be deported for drugs

Italian to be deported for drugs

INDONESIA: Indonesia planned to deport on Saturday an Italian citizen sentenced in absentia by Italian authorities for dealing in illegal drugs worth millions of dollars, police said.

Antonio Firera Beachi, 34, was arrested earlier this month on Indonesia's tourist island of Bali, said local police spokesman Lt. Col. Yatim Suyatmo.

Suyatmo said Italian Interpol believed Beachi headed an international drug syndicate responsible for the shipment of about 30 tons of cocaine and heroin between 1995 and 1997.

The nine-man syndicate operated between Brazil and Europe, he said.

The Italian Embassy in Jakarta declined to comment.

The police spokesman said Beachi had already been sentenced in absentia for drug crimes in Italy. He gave no more details.

Suyatmo said Beachi was scheduled to fly to Italy on a commercial flight late Saturday.

Italian police officers were in Bali to oversee the deportation, he said. -- AP