Police arrest Medan prison employee over 599 drug-laced vapes
Medan, N Sumatra (ANTARA) - Medan police have arrested a prison employee suspected of acting as a courier for 599 e-cigarettes containing narcotics, the city's narcotics investigation unit said.
ES, 34, from Pancur Batu, Deli Serdang District, allegedly made two drug deliveries for a 20 million rupiah (about US$1,100) payment, Medan Police Narcotics Unit Chief Adjunct Senior Commissioner Rafli Yusuf Nugraha said here Monday.
Rafli said Team III of Unit I arrested ES after receiving a tip about suspected drug trafficking involving him.
Officers investigated and arrested ES as he was about to enter his car in a hotel parking lot on Jalan Setia Budi in Medan.
"Police seized two bags containing three plastic packages of drug-laced vapes. The initial count was 600, but ES used one, leaving 599 Netflix-branded vapes," Rafli said.
ES had previously delivered 50 drug-laced vapes to Lubuk Pakam, Deli Serdang District, during an earlier operation, according to police questioning.
"This time, he returned as a courier with a larger quantity of evidence," Rafli said. ES was lured by the promised payment.
Regarding ES's employment at Medan Class I Correctional Facility, Rafli said police were investigating and would coordinate with the prison.
Preliminary findings indicate the vapes were not sold inside the prison, but police are investigating whether other people were involved.
A urine test also showed that ES had used drugs.
Rafli said ES obtained the hundreds of vapes from a man identified as AL, who allegedly supplied them and directed him.
"We will arrest AL. There will be no room for drug traffickers. As the national police chief's motto says, we must rehabilitate users and break dealers' networks together, with the public's help," Rafli said.
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Translator: Anggi LP,Rahmad Nasution
Editor: Azis Kurmala
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