S'porean nabbed with Ecstasy pills

JAKARTA (JP): A Singaporean man was arrested Wednesday for allegedly trying to smuggle 14,840 Ecstasy pills worth about Rp 667 million (US$267,120) into the country through Soekarno-Hatta International Airport.

Head of the airport's Customs Inspection Office's investigation unit Agus Wisnu said yesterday the man could be charged under Article 61 of the 1997 Psychotropic Law Number 5 on importing and exporting drugs.

"If found guilty, he could face a maximum 10 years in jail and a Rp 300 million fine," Agus said.

The airport's Customs Inspection Office head Nisfu Chasbullah said the Singaporean, identified only as YWM, 35, was carrying a new type of Ecstasy pill.

Nisfu said chemical tests showed that the pills contained a high level, more than 20 percent, of Metilendiokside Trimetoksifenetilamina (MDMA).

"The 1997 Psychotropic Law rules that with such a high MDMA content, the pills are first grade (most potential to cause dependency) drugs," he said.

He said the man refused at first to allow customs officers' to check his bag, which he had taken into the aircraft cabin with him, when he arrived at the airport at about 6 p.m. Wednesday.

The man arrived on Thai Airways flight number TG-413 from Bangkok via Singapore to Jakarta, Nisfu said.

The man threatened to report the officers to the police if their examination damaged his bag, Nisfu said.

But he gave in when the officers found a plastic box containing the pills hidden at the bottom of his canvas bag, Nisfu said.

The man probably brought the drugs from France or the Netherlands, Nisfu said.

"He flew from France and made a stop over in Bangkok, Thailand, before arriving in Jakarta."

He said the man refused to answer some of their questions -- such as who owned the drugs, who his distributors were overseas and who his local buyers were.

The man said it was his first visit to Indonesia and first attempt to smuggle drugs, Nisfu said.

He said the man would be handed over to the National Police for further investigation.

He said the airport's customs office had foiled 23 drug smuggling attempts, and seized over 250,000 Ecstasy pills, three kilograms of Hashish and 320 grams of morphine this year. (cst)