By Nik Nurfaqih Nik Wil
JAKARTA, Sept 29 (Bernama) -- Five Malaysians have been detained in Indonesia for allegedly attempting to smuggle about five kilogrammes of etomidate concealed in the soles of their shoes on a flight from Malaysia.
Indonesian National Police's Narcotics Crime Directorate Unit III head Ivan Adhitira said officers became suspicious of the group, comprising four men and a woman aged between 21 and 49, upon arrival at Soekarno-Hatta International Airport on Friday and subjected them to a thorough inspection.
“The inspection found suspected etomidate in powder form with a gross weight of five kilogrammes concealed in the soles of the five passengers' shoes,” he said in a statement, adding that laboratory tests subsequently confirmed that the powder contained etomidate.
Ivan said further questioning found that the five had been instructed by a woman in Malaysia known as ‘Madam’ through a Telegram group to transport the substance from Kuala Lumpur for RM9,000.
He said investigators subsequently monitored the planned handover, leading to the arrest of a Chinese national as he received a suitcase containing the etomidate from two of the Malaysians at a hotel in Jakarta.
He said an apartment key found in the Chinese national's possession led police to an apartment in North Jakarta, where investigators seized materials allegedly linked to the production of vape pods containing etomidate.
Ivan said police estimated the seized materials could be used to produce about 42,500 vape pods worth Rp127.5 billion (about RM33.5 million).
He added that the five Malaysians and the Chinese national remain in custody for further investigation, with the suspects facing up to 20 years in prison or life imprisonment under Indonesia's narcotics and related criminal laws.
-- BERNAMA