Two men arrested for alleged sale of 'Ecstasy'<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): The anti-narcotics police officers have arrested
\ntwo men for alleged possession and sale of the popular drug
\n\"Ecstasy\".<\/p>\n
The police also seized books containing list of names,
\ntelephone numbers and address of people believed to be the
\nsuspects' regular consumers.<\/p>\n
\"We're still working hard to determine the status of the
\npeople whose names are listed in the books,\" City Police
\nSpokesman Lt. Col. Iman Haryatna said here yesterday.<\/p>\n
A senior police detective, who refused to be named, told The
\nJakarta Post that an important figure was on a cheque payable to
\nthe suspects.<\/p>\n
\"We'll announce it later. After we have strong evidence on
\nthis important figure's role,\" the detective said.<\/p>\n
According to Capt. Immanuel from the anti-narcotics division,
\nthe two suspects were nabbed by plainclothes officers at
\ndifferent places on Thursday.<\/p>\n
The first suspect, identified as Andi S., alias Anis, 38, was
\narrested in the small hours of Feb.8th in the parking lot of B-
\nOne discotheque at Niaga Tower building on Jl. Sudirman in South
\nJakarta, Immanuel said.<\/p>\n
A number of anti-narcotics detectives had been deployed to spy
\non Anis' activities following reliable information gathered by
\nthe police.<\/p>\n
From his pocket, the detectives confiscated about 200 Ecstasy
\npills of various colors, forms and names, such as Playboy, Apple,
\nElectric and Rolls Royce.<\/p>\n
During police interrogation, Anis, a freelance photographer
\nresiding at Karet Tengsin in Central Jakarta, admitted that he
\nsold the pills at Rp 45,000 each (US$20) after purchasing them at
\nRp 40,000 each from Muhammad Aspih Achmad, 38, the policeman
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
Anis told the police officers that Aspih, a resident of
\nSurabaya, East Java, was currently in the capital and staying at
\na hotel in East Jakarta.<\/p>\n
Following Anis' tip, the detectives rushed to the Hotel
\nNirwana at around 12:30 p.m. and found Aspih at the hotel alone
\nwith 57 Ecstasy pills with him, Immanuel said.<\/p>\n
At the room, police also seized few grams of dried marijuana,
\na handphone, address books and the passport of a woman named
\nSilvy.<\/p>\n
According to officer Immanuel, at least four friends of the
\ntwo suspects are being hunted by the anti-narcotics police for
\ntheir alleged role as middlemen for transactions.<\/p>\n
They were identified as Paimo, Saidi, Sonny and Freddy.<\/p>\n
\"Preliminary investigation reveals that both Aspih and Anis
\nhave a wide number of regular consumers in the city with average
\nsales of hundreds of Ecstasy pills per week,\" said another police
\nofficer.<\/p>\n
Spokesman Iman said that the source of the pills remained
\nunknown.<\/p>\n
\"We're not that sure whether the pills are locally made or
\noriginate in Europe,\" Iman said.<\/p>\n
If the two suspects are found guilty, they will face a maximum
\nprison term of 15 years and a maximum fine of Rp 300 million, as
\nstipulated in the Law of Health No. 23 issued in 1992, said
\nImmanuel.<\/p>\n
Ecstasy, also known as MDMA, is popular among young Indonesian
\nadults and teenagers attending \"rave\" parties.<\/p>\n
The drug can reportedly be purchased at certain discotheques
\nand other places for wealthy teenagers in the city. In the early
\ndays of its popularity, the drug was sold at between Rp 100,000
\n(US$44) and Rp 200,000 per pill.<\/p>\n
Apart from Jakarta, Bali and Surabaya reportedly have a
\nthriving Ecstasy trade.<\/p>\n
As the drug can harm users, law enforcement officers have
\nbanned the trafficking and use of Ecstasy.<\/p>\n
Ecstasy used to be brought in from Europe, but it is strongly
\nbelieved that many Ecstasy pills found in Indonesia are locally
\nmade. (bsr)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/two-men-arrested-for-alleged-sale-of-ecstasy-1447893297",
"image": ""
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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