INDONESIA THWARTS SEVERAL ATTEMPTS TO SMUGGLE TONS OF METH by Fardah

Jakarta, Feb 23, 2018 (Antara) - Indonesia has foiled several attempts to smuggle tons of illicit drugs, particularly crystal methamphetamine, into the country early this year, mostly from China. 
   An attempt to smuggle some 150 tons of illicit drugs into Indonesia from China was thwarted by the Government of Timor Leste when the boat arrived in Dili after making a transit in Singapore, Muhammad Nur, head of the East Nusa Tenggara (NTT) Narcotic Office, stated in Kupang, NTT, in January 2018.  
     On February 7, 2018, the Indonesian Navy had seized MV Sunrise Glory and four Taiwanese crew members for smuggling one ton of crystal methamphetamine into Indonesia.

         The vessel, disguised as a fishing boat, was seized by Indonesia's warship Sigurot 864 in the Philip Channel, near the islands off Batam, in the maritime border between Indonesia and Singapore.

          The methamphetamine was concealed in 41 rice sacks in the lower deck of the boat.

           The Indonesian Navy had first spotted a Singaporean-flagged boat during a routine patrol of the maritime border between Indonesia and Singapore. Out of suspicion, the Navy later decided to stop the vessel.
     Deputy Navy Chief Vice Admiral Achmad Taufiqoerrochman said that the navy was acting on a tip-off from Indonesia's National Narcotics Agency (BNN), which has been tracking the suspects since December last year.

        The Sunrise Glory serving Malaysia-Taiwan route, is believed to have approached Indonesian waters to smuggle illegal drugs in Indonesia, including through transshipment in Indonesian water borders, for several times.

            Head of BNN Budi Waseso and Chief of the Indonesian Defense Forces (TNI) Marshal Hadi Tjahjanto went to Batam, Riau Islands, to get first hand information about the seizure of MV Sunrise Glory.

         A Taiwanese flag was also discovered on-board MV Sunrise Glory, and the four Taiwanese are now being held in Riau Island Province, and investigated for operating the boat under various false flags for  drug smuggling.

        Marshal Hadi Tjahjanto gave appreciation to 12 Indonesian Navy officers who successfully thwarted the smuggle attempts.

        "Once again I thank you and I appreciate all KRI Sigurot crew members for their best achievement. Of course you all show the best work for this country," said the TNI Commander.

          On Feb 20, four Chinese nationals were arrested in the waters of Riau Islands, which share a maritime border with Singapore, for attempting to smuggle 1.6 tons of crystal meth into Indonesia aboard a Singapore-flagged boat.

          When caught, the four Chinese nationals tried to bribe Indonesian security officers, but none of them were tempted by the gesture. Instead, they insisted on escorting the iron vessel carrying the crystal meth and the suspects to the Sekupang Port in Batam for further legal action, Chief of the Batam Customs Office Susila Brata had noted on Feb 21.

         The four Chinese nationals were identified by their initials as TMC, TY, TCW, and SLH, according to Senior Commissioner S Erlangga, spokesman of the Riau Island Police.

         The police have found crab-catching nets, but they believe it was only a ploy to hide the illegal drugs, as not a single crab was found aboard the vessel.

         The crystal meth was believed to be sent to Jakarta. The Police is currently carrying out a thorough investigation to find out who had ordered the crystal meth for Jakarta's market.

         House Speaker Bambang Soesatyo praised the police and customs service team for their success in foiling the smuggle attempt.

          "Our law enforcers have again showed their outstanding performance and achievement," he stated in Jakarta, Feb 21.

          He noted that the police had earlier seized Sunrise Glory ship, which carried one ton of meth. Therefore, he was convinced that the law enforcers would act firmly against the criminals.

           He considered the achievement as a signal of war against drugs dealers at home and abroad.

           "Do not try to destroy Indonesia. The government, the House of Representatives, and law enforcers are united to fight narcotic drugs. We do not want to see the nation collapse because of narcotic drugs and merciless narcotic dealers," he remarked.

          Voicing concern over the condition of narcotic victims in the country, Bambang called on all parties, including teachers, parents, and religious figures, to unite in the fight against narcotic drugs.

         "If all parties are on the same line, I am sure our nation will be free of narcotic drugs," he explained.

          Indonesia, which is among the few countries that have the harshest drug laws in the world, has been targeted by international drugs syndicates, particularly from China.

         In 2015, the country had executed 14 drug convicts, mostly foreigners, and four others in July 2016.

         In 2017, there were no executions of drug convicts, but the war on drugs continues, and is even intensified, with this time on the streets.

         The National Anti-Narcotics Agency (BNN) has revealed that in 2017, its officers had shot dead as many as 79 suspects, including Malaysian and Chinese nationals, of illegal drug cases for resisting arrests.

          According to BNN Chief Commissioner General Budi Waseso, the agency discovered 46,537 drug cases and 27 money laundering cases from narcotics crimes from January to December last year.

        "Of the total cases, we have detained 58,365 suspects in narcotics cases and 34 suspects in money laundering cases," Budi Waseso, or Buwas as he popularly known, stated.

          Meanwhile, Finance Ministry's Customs Directorate General and the General Administration of China Customs have inked an agreement to halt the cross-border trade of drugs and other illicit products.

          "The deal will be implemented in two programs, such as data and technology sharing as well as capacity building. These moves are aimed at effectively tackling the trade of illicit products," Heru Pambudi, the director general of Indonesian customs, had pointed out recently.

        Under the Customs Cooperative Arrangement on Information Exchange and Enforcement agreement, the two parties will launch joint efforts in the fight against transnational drug dealers.

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(T.F001/A/BESSR/F. Assegaf) 23-02-2018