Singaporean arrested for drug smuggling

JAKARTA (JP): Customs officials at Soekarno-Hatta International Airport have arrested a Singaporean man for allegedly smuggling 4.106 kilograms of methamphetamine, the main ingredient of Ecstasy.

The acting chief of the customs office, Soemarjono, said yesterday that Lee Keh Wan, 47, was arrested Saturday evening within minutes of arriving from Guangzhou, in China, on China Southern Airlines flight number 387.

The Singaporean, who had allegedly packed the drugs in his suitcase, aroused the attention of customs officials because he looked nervous, Soemarjono said.

"The illegal drug crystals were wrapped in black aluminum foil and packed in nine small pouches, all stitched to the bottom of his suitcase."

The crystals have an estimated street value of Rp 2.4 billion (US$665,000) and one kilogram of the drug can be used to produce at least 600,000 Ecstasy pills, he said.

Customs officials also seized Lee's passport and some cash, including Singaporean dollars.

Soemarjono said the suspect appeared anxious as he approached the X-ray scanner, prompting officials to stop him and inspect his luggage.

The scanner allegedly detected nine pouches inside the suspect's suitcase and officials later identified the white crystals inside the pouches as sabu-sabu or methamphetamine.

The drug can be used as the main ingredient of Ecstasy pills or used directly by inhaling smoke from the burning crystals, he said.

Soemarjono alleged that preliminary investigations had suggested that Lee may be a member of an international drug syndicate because he continually tried to bribe customs officials with Rp 50 million.

"Moreover, our office has received threats from a number of mysterious callers," he said, adding that he and his officers were undeterred.

Lee is undergoing further questioning at National Police Headquarters in South Jakarta.

A total of 21 foreigners have been arrested for drug-related crimes in the capital this year. (41/bsr)