Despite the fact that people in Indonesia have been executed for smuggling marijuana (which has never killed any of its users, btw), heaps of the weedy herb are still regularly clandestinely shipped from Aceh out to the rest of the archipelago.
A press release from the National Narcotics Agency (BNN) announced that last Friday, law enforcement officers seized a car containing 232 kilograms of cannabis after the vehicle crashed into a school fence in Lampung.
Police first developed the case after gathering evidence of a smuggling route running from Aceh to Java. In early August, officers learned that two vehicles, an Avanza and a Xenia, were being used to move mary jane along the Trans Sumatra highway (apparently drug syndicates have started using smaller cars when smuggling marijuana because they attract less attraction than trucks).
BNN officers then coordinated with police in Tegineneng, Lampung, to stage an ambush for the two smugglers. When they sprung their trap, the two cars attempted to escape the ambush but it was too late for one of them. The Xenia driver tried to run away from ambush but instead ended up running into a school yard fence.
Police soon arrested the Xenia’s driver, a 38-year-old male with the initials SOF, while the others members of the smuggling ring got away.
After examining the Xenia, the officers seized 230 packages of marijuana weighing 232 kilograms from the car. SOF said he was promised Rp 10 million if he had completed the delivery.
Police are still looking for the other suspects in the case. SOF could face the death penalty for smuggling.
