Singaporean caught with ecstasy pills

JAKARTA (JP): A Singaporean national was arrested with 5,852 ecstasy pills strapped to his thighs and stomach on Monday evening, an officer said on Tuesday.

The officer, who requested anonymity, said the suspect was identified as Kow Mui Auht, 24. Kow was immediately handcuffed shortly after passing through the X ray security check at the Soekarno-Hatta International Airport.

"He was so foolish. He had the pills strapped all over his thighs and tummy. He was taking the night flight to Australia from the Soekarno-Hatta International Airport," the officer said.

The ecstasy pills have a total street value of about Rp 292.6 million.

The officer said Kow was staying at the Citraland hotel in West Jakarta for at least a week.

"He arrived from Singapore with the intention of getting drugs from carriers here. Kow has so far refused to give us information on those carriers," the officer said.

He said Kow only told the airport customs officers that he got the pills from two people who were staying at the Ibis hotel in Slipi, also in West Jakarta.

Separately, National Police detectives destroyed by fire at least 1.73 kilograms of pure heroin and over two kilograms of morphine capsules confiscated from July until August on Monday afternoon. (ylt)