Drug rings operating in Jakarta have been targeting local English-speaking women to recruit as drug couriers, often at the city’s big malls, police have warned.
Rings operating in Jakarta are expanding and are connected to international networks and often use women as couriers, Jakarta Police said.
Police this week unraveled a drug ring operating across China, Hong Kong, Malaysia and Indonesia. Police arrested eight suspects with 4.8 kilograms of methamphetamines and around 6500 ecstasy pills worth Rp 8.5 billion ($850,000).
Two of the suspects were Indonesian women. Besides working as couriers, they were also tasked with renting an apartment to store the drugs.
Jakarta Police told Metro TV on Friday that drug dealers usually hunt for prospective couriers at big malls in Jakarta.
Their targets are mature women who sit alone in cafes. The courier scouts greet the women and when they are sure she can speak English, they start the recruitment process. The process often takes months and to lure the target they would lavish her with gifts and money.
After the woman agrees to be a courier, they are sent to pick up goods in Vietnam, China and Thailand, police said. Their job is to meet local dealers, take the package and return to Indonesia. Most of them are not aware that the punishment for dealers or couriers ranges from lifetime imprisonment to capital punishment.
JG
0 comments:
Post a Comment