Alleged Meth Dealer Arrested in East Aceh Police Shooting
Posted on 24 September 2013.
Banda Aceh - An alleged methamphetamine dealer was arrested on Monday night over the shooting of a police officer in East Aceh.
“As soon as he came out of his hiding place, officers tackled him, rendering him motionless,” said Sr. Cmr. Gustav Leo, an Aceh Police spokesman. “During the preliminary questioning, he admitted to having shot Brig. Syahri Rahmad.”
The alleged shooter, Wahyuddin, 36, was apprehended at 11 p.m. on Monday in Keude Plik, East Aceh. Police seized a revolver and three bullets during the arrest. Wahyu allegedly shot Syahri, an officer in the Langsa precinct, on Sept. 18, while the policeman was taking part in an undercover drug bust.
“Syahri was undercover as a crystal meth buyer… because Wahyudin is known to be a major drug dealer in the town of Langsa and in East Aceh,” Gustav said. During the attempted transaction, Wahyu allegedly discovered Syahri’s identity and shot him on the spot.
According to Gustav, Syahri is convalescing after undergoing surgery, “but the doctor who performed the surgery said Syahri would probably suffer from paralysis.”
Aceh has long been known for its marijuana plantations, most of which are located deep in the forest. While most of the province’s marijuana crop is sold in other regions, authorities have noticed an uptick in other drugs flowing into the province in recent years.
“Crystal meth use is on the rise in Aceh [since] most of the marijuana… is transported outside of Aceh,” Sr. Comr. Dedy Setyo Yudho, the director of the Aceh Police’s narcotics unit, said.
