17 suspects seized in C. Jakarta drugs raid

Damar Harsanto, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

The City Police have arrested 17 suspects on alleged drug- related offenses during fresh raids on Friday afternoon in Kampung Bali, Tanah Abang in Central Jakarta, a senior police official said on Saturday.

The City Police Detectives chief Sr. Comr. Adang Rochjana said the police found nine packages of heroin, 35 grams of marijuana, four syringes, and some other tools for drug users.

"Those 17 suspects are now with the offices of the City Police Detective for Narcotics," he said in a media release.

The police found six of the nine packages of heroin from the residence of Rodiah, 25, a housewife, while another two were discovered at Roy Mulya Wardana's house, 35.

The police also confiscated another package (of heroin) and a scale at the residence of Ramtan Sutiono, 45 and Sodik Hermanto, 54.

The marijuana was taken from the house of Zulkifli, 32 and Fernanda Chalik, 30, the police report said.

City Police spokesman Sr. Comr. Anton Bachrul Alam said that the raid was part of the police effort to crack down on drug trafficking in the capital.

"We hope that the sudden raids could become shock therapy for the drug dealers as well as the users," Anton told reporters.

Anton said the police would continue to launch anti-drug operations in the near future.

In Friday's raid which was led by City narcotics police chief Adj. Sr. Comr. Carlotewu, the police deployed one company from the Mobile Brigade unit (Brimob), and dozens of detectives also backed the operation.