Nine Aussies nabbed in major drug bust
I Wayan Juniartha, The Jakarta Post, Denpasar
Bali police nabbed nine Australian citizens for attempting to smuggle a total of 10.9 kilograms of heroin worth almost Rp 11 billion (US$1.1 million) out of Bali and into Australia on Sunday night.
It was the largest number of foreigners ever arrested in a single drug bust on the island.
Five of the suspects were Caucasians identified as SME (29), LR (28), MWC (19), SAR (19) and MJN (18).
Meanwhile, the rest of the suspects were Asians identified as CA (21), TDTN (22), SYC (20) and MS (24). Except for LR, all the suspects, currently being detained at the Bali Police Headquarters, are men.
"So far, we have only conducted preliminary questioning. There will be further interrogation after the arrival of their lawyers," said chief of Bali Police narcotics division, Adj. Comr. Bambang Sugiarto.
"We have not officially named them as suspects yet. We have three days to determine whether all of them or only some of them are suspects," Bali Police spokesperson Sr. Comr. AS Reniban said.
In a press briefing held here on Monday afternoon, Bambang Sugiarto said the operation started after the local police received a tip from the Australian Federal Police about one month ago.
The operation, which involved intensive, prolonged surveillance of three separate hotels in Kuta, finally managed to positively identified the people, believed to be the couriers for an international drug-trafficking syndicate.
The narcotic officers, assisted by the intelligence, immigration and security agents of the Ngurah Rai International Airport, finally made their move on Sunday at around 8 p.m. local time, or 7 p.m. Jakarta time.
Four suspects -- SME, LR, MWC and SAR -- were arrested in the departure lounge of the airport's international departure terminal, waiting for the flight that would take them to Sydney.
The officers searched the suspects and found packages of the illicit drug strapped on to their stomach, back and thighs. SME carried 3.3 kg, LR 2.7 kg, MWC 2.4 kg and SAR 2.5 kg.
"They evaded the detection of the police dogs by sprinkling the outer layers of the packages with pepper," Sugiarto said.
At about the same time, several officers boarded the plane and arrested another suspect, CA, who was leisurely reading a newspaper. He was immediately taken out of the plane. A further search failed to find any illegal substances on the body or in the belongings of the suspected leader of the trafficking ring.
"Surveillance's reports show that CA was the person who chaired the meetings of the suspects and issued directives to the other suspects," Sugiarto stressed.
Some 30 minutes later, the officers raided a room at Hotel Melasti in Kuta and rounded up the rest of the ring; TDTN, SYC, MJN and MS, who was celebrating his 24th birthday on that day.
The officers also found 350 grams of heroin inside a bag in the room.
All suspects could face the death sentence if found guilty on charges of trafficking heroin.
A spokeswoman for the Australian Embassy in Jakarta, whose name was not disclosed, told AFP the mission was aware of the arrests and Canberra's consulate in Denpasar would be extending legal assistance to the nine.