5 Facts on the Raid of the 'Pil Jin' Factory by Metro Jaya Police
A joint team from the Metro Jaya Police Narcotics Directorate and the West Jakarta Metro Police Resort Narcotics Unit has dismantled a ‘factory’ producing the banned drug Zenith Carnophen in the Semarang area, Central Java. There are several facts related to the uncovering of this ‘pil jin’ case.
The Director of Narcotics Crimes at National Police Headquarters, Brigadier General Eko Hadi Santoso, confirmed the raid. Eko emphasised that this uncovering is the result of intensive collaboration to break the chain of distribution of hard drugs that severely endanger the younger generation.
“We extend our highest appreciation to the Metro Jaya Police Narcotics Directorate and West Jakarta Metro Police Resort. The success in dismantling the laboratory or ‘factory’ producing Zenith in Central Java is proof of the National Police’s commitment to curbing the supply of banned drugs directly from the production source,” Eko stated when contacted on Monday (13/4/2026).
For information, Zenith Carnophen (often called pil jin or Zenith) is a hard drug originally produced as a muscle relaxant containing carisoprodol, paracetamol, and caffeine. This pil jin is often misused due to the sedative and stimulant effects it produces.
- The Beginning of the Case Uncovering
Eko also emphasised that the Narcotics Crimes Directorate at National Police Headquarters and narcotics detectives at police resorts will crack down firmly on drug trafficking from upstream to downstream.
“We are committed to taking action against illegally traded banned hard drugs,” he added.
The uncovering of this pil jin ‘factory’ came to light after the joint team from the Metro Jaya Police Narcotics Directorate and West Jakarta Metro Police Resort arrested two suspects at a hotel in North Jakarta on Friday (10/4).
- Suspects Arrested
From that arrest, the operation proceeded to a second location at Jalan Kertanegara 3, South Semarang, Semarang. There, police arrested a suspect with initials TJ, a recidivist in narcotics cases, along with evidence including a mobile phone and two ATM cards.
Based on the examination of suspect TJ, police then raided a warehouse building in Wonopolo Village, Mijen, Semarang. At that location, police seized a total of 1,855 kilograms of precursors, detailed as: 10 drums of carisoprodol (250 kg), 32 sacks of hisel (730 kg), 26 sacks of talaq (650 kg), 9 drums of poviden (225 kg), as well as equipment for printing Zenith pills.
From the arrests, police seized 120,000 Zenith pills. The suspects were arrested.
“Officers initially secured a man with initials P in the Penjaringan area, North Jakarta, with evidence of 120,000 Zenith pills. Based on initial statements, P is suspected of acting as a courier under the control of the main suspect with initials D, who operates the factory from out of town,” stated the Head of Public Relations of Metro Jaya Police, Commissioner Budi Hermanto, when contacted by reporters on Tuesday (14/4).
- Evidence Seized
Police then arrested D in Semarang, Central Java. Police found a warehouse converted into a narcotics production laboratory and seized 186,000 pil jin pills, bringing the total pills seized from the suspect arrests and factory raid to 306,000 pills.
“At that location, police seized 186,000 Zenith tablets ready for distribution as well as 1.83 tonnes of precursor raw materials ready to be pressed into millions of banned drug pills,” he explained.
Police also secured an automatic printing machine and material processing machines used for mass production. Police stated that the network targets teenagers and workers.
“The existence of this factory is considered highly dangerous because it has a very large and organised production capacity,” he explained.
- Articles Applied
For their actions, the two suspects are charged under Article 610 paragraph (2) and Article 609 paragraph (2) of Law Number 1 of 2023 (New Criminal Code) in conjunction with Republic of Indonesia Law Number 35 of 2009 on Narcotics.
“The success in thwarting the circulation of more than 4.3 million Zenith pills has directly saved at least 4.3 million lives of the nation’s children from risks of permanent nerve damage to death. Let us make this moment to strengthen family and community resilience against the dangers of drugs,” he stated.
- 8 People Added to DPO
Police are still investigating this case. As many as eight people have been added to the wanted persons list (DPO) related to the production of the banned drug Zenith Carnophen, also known as pil jin.
“There are eight DPOs and they are still being hunted by officers,” Budi said.
Commissioner Budi stated that of the two people arrested, one is a police officer. Investigators are still delving into the roles of the suspects.
“The involvement of the officer is still being examined,” he explained.