DRUG SMUGGLING

Airport authority destroys drugs

Multa Fidrus

The Jakarta Post Tangerang

Authorities at the Soekarno Hatta International Airport destroyed more than 72,000 ecstasy pills valued at Rp 7.2 billion on Friday.

Airport Excise and Customs chief Rahmat Subagio said the drugs were found in six delivery packages in the airport's cargo warehouse by PT Angkasa Pura II security officers between Dec. 11, 2006, and Jan. 27 this year.

"The packages, which were reported as containing food and handicrafts, were to be sent to several cities, including Makassar, Pangkal Pinang, Jambio, Palembang, Pontianak and Banjarmasin," Subagio said.

He said the Airport Interdiction Task Force, which is made up of police officers, customs officials and PT Angkasa Pura II security staff, had arrested eight suspects, identified only as FR, FA alias Alung, RA, S, His alias Hj. S, KA, AM and SJ.

"However, we are still investigating some aspects of the case in cooperation with police at delivery destinations," Subagio, who is also the chairman of the task force, said.

He said soon after the drugs were found, Angkasa Pura II security officers handed them over to the customs office to be examined.

"The examination indicated that all of the pills in the packages positively contained psychotropic substances," he said. (February 02, 2008)