More Nigerians arrested for heroin possession
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)