Eight women and two men from Iran have been arrested for allegedly trying to bring more than Rp 100 billion ($10 million) worth of methamphetamine into Indonesia, in what customs officials called the biggest drug bust ever at Jakarta's Soekarno Hatta Airport. The head of the Customs Office, Supriyadi, said the arrests started Monday when officers caught three two women and a man arriving on a Malaysia Airlines flight from Kuala Lumpur. Police said they were carrying nearly 9.9 grams of meth worth Rp 21.7 billion ($2.1 million). The drug was hidden in food containers. Soon after, four women arrived on Emirates Air from Damascus carrying 16.9 grams of meth worth Rp 37.4 billion. Two women were then detained from a Qatar Airways flight originating in Doha. They were said to be carrying one kilogram of liquid meth worth 33 billion rupiah in 26 shampoo and soap bottles. The fourth arrest occurred on Tuesday. Police said a man who arrived on Qatar Airways was carrying 4.5 kg of liquid meth hidden in 6 bottles of porcelain cleaner, worth a total of just under Rp 10 billion. In total, police confiscated drugs worth Rp 102.064 billion, said Supriyadi. In a press conference at the airport's custom office, nine suspects were shown to the public. They are being held at National Police Headquarters in South Jakarta. The tenth, a man, was hospitalized for a suicide attempt. The suspects are alleged members of a Middle East drug ring. Meth from the region is said to be a favorite among drug users here for its good quality,
