Police nab suspected weapons smuggler
Evi Mariani, The Jakarta Post/Jakarta
The Jakarta Police have detained a suspect for allegedly smuggling 552 illegal weapons into the country, the biggest haul this year, through Tanjung Priok port in North Jakarta.
"The suspect, identified as F, is the owner of an import company," said the city police detectives chief Sr. Comr. Mathius Salempang on Thursday. "I can't say more as I am still counting the weapons here as evidence."
Tanjung Priok Customs and Excise Office handed over the smuggled weapons to the police as evidence for further investigation.
The Ministry of Finance's Customs Directorate found on Wednesday 492 Carl Walter 7.65 mm pistols in 11 different models and 60 Smith & Wesson Springfield guns in three different models.
The customs office said usually arms smuggling was done in small quantities and via airports.
The weapons had been packed in 41 boxes shipped among plastic guns. The import order, dated Nov. 25 made by PT GM toy importer, said the contents of the container imported from Taiwan were plastic toy guns.
Customs officials found the container on board the ship YM Moji V.13 S from Taiwan. Officials became suspicious when the Hi- Co Scanner at the seaport customs office detected metal in the container. They searched it and found the guns and thousands of rounds of ammunition inside.
"The importer has violated the customs law, which carries a maximum sentence of five years in prison and/or a maximum fine of Rp 250 million (US$27,777). He has also violated Emergency Law No. 12/1951, which carries a maximum sentence of death," Eddy Abdurachman, director general of customs and excise, said on Wednesday.
The value of the smuggled weapons, however, remains unknown.
In another haul, custom officials seized 300 6mm semi automatic air pistols. The air pistols were shipped from Taiwan on board the Wan Hai 206 S155 and were imported by PT CPI. The company also said in the document that the goods were imported toys.
Only certain civilians are permitted to own weapons including lawyers, bank directors and high ranking ministerial or administrative officials whose work is deemed risky. But they are only permitted to own registered firearms of less than .32 caliber, or 7.65 mm. Higher caliber firearms are licensed only to police and military personnel.
Last year, about 800 civilians were registered in the city as gun owners, while registered civilian firearm owners number 9,702 nationwide.
Gun owners must undergo an annual assessment of their suitability to possess a firearm, including target shooting and a psychiatric test.