5 Indonesians Face Possible Death Penalty in Malaysia for Drug Smuggling

JAKARTA, KOMPAS.com – Five Indonesians were arrested in Malaysia for allegedly smuggling 230 kilograms of marijuana into the Southeast Asian country.

The Indonesian Foreign Ministry Kementerian Luar Negeri confirmed that the incident took place at the end of July.

“The Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency [APMM] arrested the Indonesian nationals off Langkawi on July 25 as they were smuggling contraband in two wooden ships,” said the ministry’s Director for Citizens Protection Judha Nugraha in a video conference on August 7.

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“The APMM charged the five for violating Section 39B of the country’s 1952 Dangerous Drugs Act. The agency notified the Indonesian Consulate in Penang on July 27, two days after the arrests.”

Judha hoped that the Malaysian authorities will grant the consulate access to the Indonesian citizens, especially in light of the gravity of their crimes.

He added that the five Indonesians were currently undergoing a Covid-19 polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test.

Thinkstockphotos A marijuana joint being wrapped up

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“The offenses that the defendants are charged with carry the death penalty, so the Indonesian Foreign Ministry will provide them legal counsel through our ‘regular lawyer’ [in Malaysia].”

The foiled drug run is the latest high stakes attempt at drug smuggling in both Indonesia or Malaysia. The attempt comes over a week after Indonesian narcotics police in Jakarta seized more than 131 kilograms of marijuana during a drug raid at the end of July.

(Writer: Devina Halim | Editor: Diamanty Meiliana)

Sources:

https://nasional.kompas.com/read/2020/08/07/15404011/5-wni-diduga-selundupkan-230-kg-ganja-terancam-hukuman-mati-di-malaysia.