Ex-Navy Man Nabbed in C. Jakarta Drugs, Arms Bust

Jakarta Globe, Priska Sari Pratiwi, Mar 06, 2015

Methamphetamine in crystalline form, seized by police in an unrelated
bust in 2012. (JG Photo/Safir Makki)

Jakarta. A retired Navy officer was among those suspected to be part of an international syndicate to smuggle drugs and firearms into the country, police revealed on Friday.

Bahtiar, 52, who police identified as a retired lieutenant, was on Wednesday caught with 2.8 grams of methamphetamine, three rifles, 19 handguns and 248 rounds of ammunition at an apartment he rented in Kemayoran, Central Jakarta.

Police also confiscated several knives, a bulletproof vest and a forged Indonesian Navy stamp believed to have been used during his many drug runs.

Brig. Gen. Anjan Pramuka Putra, chief of the National Police’s anti-narcotics directorate, said Bahtiar’s arrest came after a month-long probe into the syndicate.

Officers first arrested a woman nicknamed “Bunda,” or mother, who is believed to be the ringleader of the operation.

“From [Bunda] we confiscated about five kilograms of meth,” Anjan said.

Police are now pursuing a third suspect identified as Jack who may be hiding in Surabaya, East Java.

Bahtiar has told investigators that since retiring from the military, he had been working as a private security officer on a fuel tanker.  Armed with a forged letter from the Navy, Bahtiar was able to avoid scrutiny from police and customs.

Investigators believe the drugs may have originated from China and were to be distributed in Jakarta as well as several other major cities across the country.

“We are still investigating the weapons [belonging to Bahtiar],” Anjan said.

Bahtiar admitted to have obtained one gun while serving in the Navy; the rest were bought on the black market, he said.

Police are now looking into Bahtiar’s possible clients — if the weapons were intended for criminals or terrorists, and whether he had sold firearms in the past.

Should he be found guilty of the drug charges, he could face the death penalty, although this is unlikely.