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Police officer arrested for drug dealing in South Sulawesi
Jakarta Post - April 8, 2016
Brig. Supardi was caught on Thursday evening when he was allegedly about to distribute 3.4 kilograms of crystal methamphetamine, locally known as shabu-shabu.
Supardi was attending a police education program at the Batua State Police School (SPN) in Makassar when he was apprehended. He was then taken to South Sulawesi Police headquarters to undergo an investigation. The suspect was charged with violating Article 114 of Law 35/2009 on narcotics, which is punishable by death.
The case emerged after Pinrang Police officers searched Supardi's home in Paleteang district, Pinrang, on Thursday evening and found 3.4 kg of crystal methamphetamine ready to be distributed.
Pinrang Police chief Adj. Sr. Comr. Adri Irniadi said on Friday that the search has been conducted following suspicious activities at the house, which belonged to Supardi's parents-in-law. Numerous people had been reported visiting the house from morning to night carrying something, he added. "We got suspicious. We then searched the house and found 3.4 kg of crystal meth," said Adri.
The contraband was found in two different locations. In the suspect's bedroom, the police found eight packages weighing a total of 400 grams. Meanwhile, another 3 kg were found in a paddy storage place beneath the house, separated into three big packages. The narcotics were hidden in a cardboard box.
Adri said the suspect was involved in drug distribution networks both at the local and national level. The seized crystal meth was apparently sourced from Malaysia. "We are expanding our investigation to discover his network. He is involved in a drug syndicate operating out of Makassar," said Adri.
He said Pinrang was a hotspot for narcotics. In the past year, some 200 drug suspects have been taken into custody by Pinrang Police, most of them on drug consumption or drug dealing charges.
On Monday, Parepare Police foiled an attempt to smuggle crystal meth from the Philippines at Nusantara Parepare Port. The drugs were apparently sent to a Pinrang resident.
In 2015, a married couple in Pinrang, identified as Amir alias Dawang, 46, and Maemunah, 44, were sentenced to death for drug dealing. They were found guilty possessing 6.8 kg of crystal methamphetamine. (ebf)
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