The authorities in Batam have made a big drug bust, confiscating a 66kg shipment of crystal methamphetamine, or meth.
Batam police and Customs officers uncovered the highly addictive drug, known locally as shabu-shabu, stuffed in sacks of tea and detergent.
These were destined for Jakarta, and officials believe Batam and Singapore could have been the transit points.
"The arrangement was that the shabu-shabu was shipped from Singapore to Batam by sea and then flown to Jakarta by air.
"We played along with (the culprits') plan and arrested them in Jakarta," Riau Islands provincial police chief, Inspector-General Didid Widiadi, told reporters at the Hang Nadim airport's cargo terminal yesterday.
He added that the drugs would have been distributed elsewhere in Indonesia - including to Medan in North Sumatra province, and to cities in Kalimantan, Borneo.
Two people were arrested last Wednesday in connection with the case.
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66kg
Crystal meth seized in Batam.
Both are believed to be couriers who turned up to pick up the shipment in Jakarta on behalf of a company known only by its initials DC.
Investigations are continuing into who arranged for the shipment, said Colonel Yani Sudarto, director for illicit drug investigation of the Riau Islands provincial police.
"There are many illegal routes between Singapore and Batam," Col Yani said, adding that Indonesian police had informed the authorities in Singapore about the latest seizure.
Under Indonesian law, the two men under arrest face a maximum of 20 years in jail if convicted.
