Nigerian arrested with heroin worth Rp3.2b

Nigerian arrested with heroin worth Rp3.2b

JAKARTA (JP): Police have arrested a Nigerian man at a Central
Jakarta house for allegedly possessing 1.3 kilograms of high-
grade heroin.

Deputy to City Police chief of detectives Lt. Col. Bakat
Purwanto said yesterday the heroin confiscated from Romanus Ngobi
Igbozulike Pita, 38, had an estimated street value of Rp 3.2
billion.

"I'd say that it's the biggest drug haul this year," Bakat
said.

Bakat said his men arrested Romanus on Wednesday afternoon at
his rented room in Kebon Sirih after the officers were tipped off
by informants.

"We found the heroin packed in 13 packages, of around one
ounce each, under his bed," he said.

He said the confiscated drugs were typical high-grade heroin
grown in Thailand.

Informants reportedly told detectives that Romanus dealt drugs
on a regular basis and that he seldom bought heroin in Thailand
himself.

The suspect claimed during interrogation that he was a
clothing exporter, Bakat said.

Although Romanus said he has been in Indonesia for four months
for business purposes, he did not produce a passport, Bakat said.

He also continually denied the drugs were his, he said.

"It doesn't matter. The point is that we caught him with the
heroin in his possession. That's enough to put him in jail," said
Bakat.

He said Romanus would be charged under Article 87 of the 1997
Law on Narcotics on illegal possession of heroin.

"It means that he can be jailed for a maximum of 10 years or
fined up to Rp 500 million," he said.

According to the head of the narcotics unit, Lt. Col. H.
Abdullah, Romanus was the fifth foreigner to be arrested this
year for alleged drug dealing or usage.

Abdullah said a Turk, a Nigerian and two Thais were arrested
in January.

"All of them were arrested with heroin in their possession.
They were either users or dealers," he said.

He said 12 local heroin dealers have also been arrested so far
this year.

Abdullah said the total amount of heroin confiscated this year
was about three kilograms. (cst)