More Nigerians arrested for heroin possession
JAKARTA (JP): Police have arrested another two foreigners holding Nigerian passports for possessing 3.6 kilograms of first- grade heroin, a senior officer said yesterday.
National Police spokesman Brig. Gen. Trimada Dani said it was the second largest heroin haul this year following the confiscation last week of 3.7 kilos of heroin -- with a street value of US$555,000 -- from three Nigerians.
The two suspects were identified as Emeka Simon, 33 and Christian Chukwumeregaba Chukwu Egbin, 27, who were arrested about 6:30 p.m. Friday in Central Jakarta, Trimada said.
Friday's arrests were made as a result of the information supplied by three Nigerians who were arrested Thursday, he said.
Six Nigerians have been arrested this month for their alleged involvement in the smuggling of first-grade heroin into the country.
"One of the them, Okechukwu Halliday, alias Collins, who is 26, confessed that his Malawian passport was fake and that he got it from fellow Nigerians in Kebon Kacang," he said.
"There has been no response or comment from the Nigerian Embassy here about the arrests," he said. Police report arrests of foreigners to the respective embassies.
No one in the Nigerian Embassy was available yesterday to comment on the arrests.
Trimada said officers had raided a rented house at Jl. Kebon Kacang I/99 following Halliday's confession and arrested Simon and Egbin.
"We found 36 packages of heroin weighing 3.6 kilos in their rooms in the house and Rp 40 million (US$121,121) as well," he alleged.
The deputy commander of the National Police Detectives Corps, Brig. Gen. Soeparman, said his office was still investigating whether there were any connections between Simon and Egbin and six other suspects, including Halliday and his two alleged accomplices.
"You see, there were three people -- a Thai woman, a Liberian man and a Nigerian -- who were arrested Wednesday for allegedly smuggling 1.7 kilos of heroin on board Thai Airlines flight TG 985 from Bangkok to Sydney via Jakarta," he said.
"On Thursday, we apprehended Halliday and his two Nigerian friends -- Charles Uche and Richard Abuator -- for receiving 3.7 kilos of heroin which was carried on the same flight as the 1.7 kilos.
"And Friday, Simon and Egbin were arrested for possessing heroin when we were actually looking for the providers of Halliday's fake passport.
"Of course, they're all connected in a heroin syndicate. But, we still need more information to clarify several things, including identifying their leader and possible local partners."
Soeparman said it was unclear whether the heroin seized from Simon and Egbin was from the same supplier as that seized from the Thai woman and Halliday, he said.
Laboratory examinations would later prove whether the batches of heroin were identical and whether they were produced in Thailand.
According to Article 78 of the 1997 Narcotics Law No. 22, people found guilty of possessing heroin could face a maximum penalty of 10 years in jail and Rp 500 million in fines.
If the suspects are found guilty of smuggling heroin, they could be jailed for life or up to 20 years in jail and Rp 1 billion in fines.
Soeparman said his office had also questioned the owner of the rented house where Simon and Egbin were arrested.
"So far, there is no evidence which proves the (owner's) involvement with the suspects' drug activities," he said. (cst)