70-year-old granny arrested

BALIKPAPAN, East Kalimantan: Balikpapan police early this week arrested a 70 year-old drug-dealing grandmother, identified as Mbah Ning, alias Sumarni, Antara said.

"I deeply regret it. It'd have been better for me to sell getuk (sweet cake made of pounded cassava) than to sell the drugs that led me here," Mbah Ning told reporters at the police detention center Thursday.

The police confiscated 164 Arthane and 100 Nipam pills from her.

The mother of nine, who already has 20 grandchildren, confessed that she sold the drugs because it is an easier way to get money. "I needed only to wait for the buyers, who were mostly young people, to come to my house to get the drugs."

"At least, I could support my 80 year-old husband who is very sick now," said Sumarni, who sold her rooster for 160 pills to start off her business.