Customs Office Foils Heroin Smuggling

Tanjungpinang, Riau Islands (Antara Bali) - Customs and excise officials of the Riau Islands province have foiled a smuggling attempt of 3.4 kg heroine at the Sri Bintan Pura international seaport on Monday.

The alleged smuggler identified by his initial as Ih hailing from Malaysia committed the heroin smuggling by Ferry MV Cinta Indomas heading to Tanjungpinang, the Customs and Excise personnel said, adding Il has been questioned by the Customs and Excise officials.

In the meantime, during 2012, the Directorate General of Customs and Excise(DJBC) has seized at least 539 kilograms of narcotics, doubling the figures from 2011.

"We have seized narcotics of 538,980.95 grams, or 539 kilograms. The current amount is larger than [that seized] in 2011, which reached 217,392.17 grams," said Customs and Excise Director General Agung Kuswandono at a press conference in the DJBC office on Friday.

According to him, the type of narcotics that have increased the most in 2012 is Ecstasy, of which authorities have seized up to 383,127.05 grams compared with figures in 2011 of only 9,665.7 grams. (*/DWA/T007)