Alleged drug dealer arrested in a mall

Alleged drug dealer arrested in a mall

JAKARTA (JP): A middle-aged man was arrested in Kalibata Mall
in South Jakarta for allegedly selling low-grade heroin called
sabu-sabu, police said yesterday.

City Police spokesman Lt. Col. E. Aritonang said the man,
identified as Yacob Jericho, 51, was arrested Sunday afternoon.

"He was arrested while trying to find buyers for his drugs,"
he said.

"It is believed the suspect had been selling drugs in the mall
and a few other places, especially to students," Aritonang said.

Yacob aka Wance, told police during questioning that he sold
the drugs for about Rp 50,000 (US$10) per gram.

However, Yacob, who lived in the Sunter Karya housing estate
in Tanjung Priok, North Jakarta, insisted that he was not the
main dealer and was only a middleman who was often ordered to
sell drugs, Aritonang said.

The officer said the drugs confiscated from the suspect were
wrapped into packages.

He said Yacob's arrest followed a tip-off from an informant
about a middle-aged man who often sold drugs to visitors at the
mall.

Police were still interrogating the suspect to collect more
information on his network, Aritonang said.

He said Yacob would likely be charged under articles 79 and 82
of 1997 Narcotics Law no. 22 which carried a maximum penalty of
10 years in jail and Rp 300 million in fines. (cst)