S. Arabian citizen nabbed for drugs

TANGERANG: A Saudi Arabian citizen was arrested at Soekarno- Hatta International Airport on Thursday for trying to smuggle 2,647 benzodiazepam barbiturate pills into the country.

Airport customs and excise chief Jusuf Indarto said on Friday that the suspect, identified as Aljamas Abdulrahman Mohammed, 25, had arrived at the airport from Riyadh on Thursday.

"Metal detector test results indicated the suspect was hiding something on his body. Suspicious officers then carried out a physical examination and found that the suspect was hiding the pills, allegedly containing psychotropic substances, in two plastic bags that were attached to both his thighs," he said.

Airport police chief Insp. Sri Suari Wahyudi said the suspect could be charged with violating Article 61 of Law No. 5/1997 on psychotropic substances. The Article carries a maximum punishment of 10 years in jail and a Rp 300 million fine.

Both the suspect and the evidence are at the National Police Headquarters for further investigation.--JP