Nine people arrested in heroin smuggling case

JAKARTA (JP): Nine people, including three foreigners, were arrested yesterday for smuggling and distributing some 1.2 kilograms heroin worth around Rp 51 million (US$21,250), the City Police Chief said.

Maj. Gen. Hamami Nata said police arrested nine suspects and confiscated Rp 131.5 million and 1,297.5 grams of high grade Nepalese heroin in simultaneous raids on several places in South Jakarta in the early hours yesterday.

The nine are strongly suspected to be members of a local drugs ring that supplies customers with heroin smuggled from overseas.

"Police are still tracking the network's remaining members, Hamami said at City Police headquarters.

Police have yet to contact the three foreigners' embassies, Hamami said.

The two Nepalese, identified as BT and BT, arrived here on Wednesday with the drugs, through the Soekarno-Hatta International Airport.

The men flew Royal Nepal and Singapore Airlines from Nepal to Jakarta via Bangkok and Singapore.

Each of them hid heroin inside 140 capsules which they swallowed so as to pass through customs undetected.

The other contraband was addressed to a British national, identified as Richard, a Briton.

Richard, believed to be the main local distributor, was closely watched for the past three months before being arrested. Richard has lived here for three years, moving from one hotel to another. He offered a Rp 200 million bribe to the officers who made the arrest.

Richard was arrested in Kemang and the two Nepalese at the Prapanca Hotel, both in South Jakarta.

Police also arrested David, who is suspected to be one of the main dealers, and another five drug users in Richard's heroin ring. Among the five were three women, identified respectively as Irene, Ivonne and Isabelle.

Other evidence such as syringes and handphones was also seized. (04)