The head of the Nusakambangan narcotics detention center has been detained for allegedly receiving money from drug transactions.

The National Narcotics Agency (BNN) arrived at the prison on Tuesday afternoon and raided the office of Marwan Adli, who was then taken into detention.

"We are taking him to Jakarta this afternoon," BNN's spokesman Sumirat told news portal Detik.com, adding that the agency was still investigating the exact amount of money Marwan had received.

BNN also detained inmate Hartoni, who is alleged to be one of the players in a narcotics ring operated from the island prison off Cilacap district, Central Java.

Hartoni allegedly ordered up to 3 kilograms of methamphetamine from Jakarta each month. The meth was later distributed to several places in Indonesia.

From behind bars, Hartoni was believed to have made about Rp 4 billion ($455,000) from the drugs each month, using other people's bank accounts for the transactions.

Marwan allegedly knew about the illegal transactions, but was given hush money to keep quiet. "We have been investigating the allegation since November 2010 and we are still trying to find out what other officials are involved in this case," he said.

Meanwhile, the Justice and Human Rights Ministry said they had not yet received an official report about the detainment. "I have read in the news, but so far I haven't received any official reports. I am on the way to Nusakambangan to check," said Mayun Mataram, a ministry official.

It is not the first time that Nusakambangan prison officials have been involved in the drug business.

Dasep Suryana, the chief warden of Besi Penitentiary on Nusakambangan Island, and six of his subordinates were fired on March 2 after an inspection uncovered a drug ring that had smuggled at least 29 tons of methamphetamine over eight years, an official said on Wednesday.