VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

A drug dealer, who fled Sialang Bungkuk Penitentiary, Pekanbaru, Riau, along with 472 other inmates on May 5, 2017, was sent back to jail last week, Riau Police spokesman Sen. Coms. Sunarto stated here, Wednesday.

The fugitive, only identified by his initials as ES alias EP, was caught again during a recent drug raid operation at a house in the Widya Graha housing complex in Delima Village, Tampan Sub-district, Pekanbaru City, after being at large for about three years, he told journalists.

This 41-year-old man was apprehended on April 17, 2016, for drug offence and was sentenced by the local court's panel of judges for five and half years in jail. However, he could escape prison along with 472 other inmates on May 5, 2017, Sunarto stated.

ES was apprehended last week by the Riau Provincial Police's anti-drug squad personnel from a house in Delima Village for allegedly trading crystal methamphetamine and ecstasy pills.

The police investigators seized six small packs of crystal meth, or sabu-sabu, and 22 ecstasy pills as well as a digital scale and cellular phone, he stated, adding that ES was then sent back to the Sialang Bungkuk Penitentiary on Tuesday.

A total of 473 prisoners escaped from the Sialang Bungkuk Penitentary on May 5, 2017, after breaking through the prison's front door. Some 100 of the escapees reportedly remain at large.

Indonesia remains under grave threat from drug dealers, as several individuals from its working-age population have been embroiled in a vicious circle.

Both domestic and transnational drug dealers perceive Indonesia as one of their potential markets due to its large population and millions of drug users. The drug trade in the country is estimated to reach nearly Rp66 trillion.

According to the National Narcotics Agency's (BNN's) report, some 50 drug use-related deaths occur in a day in Indonesia. However, their deaths have failed to deter other drug users in the country from consuming these banned substances.

Users of crystal methamphetamine, narcotics, marijuana, and other addictive drugs transcend communities and socio-economic and cultural backgrounds.

On January 20, 2020, the South Jakarta Metropolitan police had apprehended a 27-year-old US national, only identified by his initials as CCB, at his apartment in Bintaro, Jakarta, for allegedly smuggling marijuana into Indonesia.

The suspect allegedly smuggled the marijuana that he had camouflaged in brownies and vape liquids. He concealed this illicit drug in a bag that he carried along while boarding the aircraft, South Jakarta Police Chief Sen. Coms. Bastoni Purnama revealed.

CCB told police investigators that he worked for a mental health clinic in California and arrived at the Soekarno Hatta International Airport on January 17, 2020, on a tourist visa.

The suspect was arrested at his apartment on Monday after a tip-off received by the South Jakarta police’s anti-drug squad personnel on a drug transaction at the apartment. (ANTARA)