North Jakarta Police Commissioner Susetio Cahyadi announced yesterday that his officers had seized 12 kilograms of methamphetamines, said to be worth Rp 18 billion, originating from Guangzhou, China.
As is often the case, the meth was concealed in an unusual container, or rather containers. Specifically, it was sewn into the lining of 82 ladies' handbags.
According to Susetio, the meth filled fashion accessories were seized at a boarding house on Jalan Jatayu in Kebayoran Lama, South Jakarta, on Tuesday, July 7.
"The meth was received by Jumi Yenita, a 26 years old," he said at his office yesterday, as quoted by Tempo.
Susetio said the meth was ordered from China by a Nigerian citizen named Jhon Ladiord Okori. After the meth arrived in Penjaringan, North Jakarta, Jhon contacted Jumi to pick it up.
After Jumi picked up the product, Susetio said police followed her and caught her with the narcotics in her room. Police later arrested Jhon on Thursday, July 9 at the same boarding house.
Jumi claimed she did not know the bags contained meth. "Jhon asked me to take the bags and paid me Rp 1 million." Jhon also denied ordering the drugs, saying he was just buying bags from China to sell here.
The head of North Jakarta's Drug Investigation Unit, Assistant Commissioner Apollo Sinambella, said each bag contains 12.5 grams of meth that was destined to be circulated throughout Jakarta.
For their actions, Jumi and Jhon have both been charged with drug smuggling with a maximum prison sentence of 20 years or the death penalty.