Alleged drug vendors arrested

JAKARTA (JP): Police have apprehended two alleged major Ecstasy dealers in separate raids in North and West Jakarta.

City Police spokesman Lt. Col. E. Aritonang yesterday that the first one, Sutsan, 29, is thought to be one of the city's main Ecstasy distributors.

He was arrested Saturday night at his house on Jl. Pademangan II in North Jakarta with 20,230 Ecstasy pills in his possession, the officer said.

The second, Sukino, 35, was arrested the same night while visiting a nightspot in the red-light district of Jl. Mangga Besar in West Jakarta.

Aritonang said 335 Ecstasy pills and 24.8 grams of marijuana were found in his possession.

Preliminary investigations revealed that the two ran their activities separately.

"The two are being detained at the City Police detention center. We need to collect more information about the drug network in the city from them," he said.

He said both Sutsan and Sukino would be charged under Article 59 of the 1997 Psychotropic Law Number 5 on the distribution of Ecstasy.

If found guilty, they face a maximum 15 years in jail and Rp 750 million (US$87,000) in fines. (cst)