Military ammunition discovered in crackdown on terrorists
Military ammunition discovered in crackdown on terrorists
Oyos Saroso H.N., The Jakarta Post, Bandarlampung
A truck loaded with ammunition commonly used by the military has
been detained by Lampung Police, who suspect a link to a
terrorist group.
Police also found three kilograms of marijuana in the front
compartment of the container truck, which they stopped on a
southern Sumatra highway in Central Lampung during a regular
check on Monday night. The truck, bearing Acehnese license plate
number BL 8666 NB, was heading to Surabaya, East Java, from
Lhokseumawe, Aceh.
The ammunition comprised 520 live bullets for M-16 semi-
automatic assault rifles, 135 9mm live bullets, 14 magazines for
M-16s, each containing 502 live bullets, two active grenades, a
military knife, a matchstick rifle, a holster bearing a military
logo and a journal with a military logo on the cover.
Central Lampung Police station chief Adj. Sr. Comr. Juni said
investigators were questioning the truck driver, Rissi Darkasi,
and looking for two passengers, identified as Zainal and Udin,
who escaped arrest.
"There is a possibility that he (Darkasi) is linked to a
terrorist group that plans acts of terror in the country," Juni
said.
The most recent bomb attack in the country took place in the
small Central Sulawesi town of Tentena last month, killing 21.
Police suspected a terrorist group was behind the blasts.
During questioning, Darkasi said he was delivering home
appliances and furniture for CV Mulia Baru in Lhokseumawe to
Chief Sgt. Salin, a member of the Brawijaya Military Police
overseeing East Java, as stated on its delivery order.
Terbanggi Besar Police chief First Insp. Eko M. Probo Cahyo
said the officers conducting the check first discovered the
marijuana. A further search, which Darkasi resisted, revealed the
ammunition locked in green boxes in the container.
Darkasi said he was paid Rp 5 million (US$526) to drive the
truck from Lhokseumawe to Jakarta only. The truck also carried
five generators belonging to PT Daya Panasindo Teknik and toys
and canned beverages ordered by Barona store, both in Surabaya.
The driver also claimed the marijuana belonged to Zainal, who
had asked Darkasi to drop him in Jambi but eventually went all
the way to Lampung.
Eko said his personnel frequently conducted night checks on
motorists as part of efforts to curb crime and anticipate terror
attacks in Central Lampung regency.
Indonesian police have warned of possible fresh terrorist
attacks following the Tentena bombings. They have been hunting
down Malaysian bombmakers Azahari bin Husin and Noordin Moh. Top,
who are suspected of masterminding a spate of attacks in the
country since the Bali blasts in 2002.