[hanomantoto]

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta – Three Indian citizens with the initials RM, SD, and GV are facing the death penalty after they were caught smuggling 106 kilograms of crystal meth in the waters of Pongkar, Karimun Regency, Riau Islands. They were arrested on July 13, 2024, while sailing a boat.

The head of the Legal Information Section (Kasipenkum) of the Riau Islands High Prosecutor’s Office, Yusnar Yusuf, said the suspects are charged with several articles. “The articles charged against the suspects are Article 113 paragraph (2) or Article 114 paragraph (2) or Article 112 paragraph (2) in conjunction with Article 132 paragraph (1) of Law No. 35 of 2009 on Narcotics with the threat of death penalty,” Yusnar said in a statement on Friday, November 8, 2024.

The three suspects will be brought to court soon. “Currently, the team of prosecutors and investigators have coordinated for the extradition of the suspects and evidence,” Yusnar said, explaining the follow-up by law enforcement officials.

The three Indian nationals brought crystal meth from Malaysia on behalf of a man named Riki. The suspects were asked to distribute drugs to Australia in exchange for Rp1.1 billion. A joint team from the National Narcotics Agency (BNN), the Riau Provincial Narcotics Agency (BNNP), and the Customs Department foiled the attempt.

The arrest operation started with information about drug smuggling through the waters of the Riau Islands. The authorities then conducted a joint maritime patrol. During the patrol, a Legend Aquarius type LCT (Landing Craft Transport) vessel suspected of carrying drugs was intercepted in the waters of Pongkar, Karimun Regency, Riau Islands Province on Saturday, July 13, 2024.

The vessel was then escorted by officials to Sekupang Makmur Abadi Port in Batam for inspection. “Upon inspection, officials found a total of 106 plastic packets suspected to contain crystal meth,” BNN chief Major General Marthinus Hukom said in a written statement on Wednesday, July 17, 2024. The illegal goods were hidden in the fuel tank.

YOGI EKA SYAHPUTRA from Batam contributed to the writing of this article.

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