Drugs burned, spectators get high

Multa Firdaus The Jakarta Post Tangerang, Banten

Confiscated drugs worth billions of rupiah was burned in an incinerator (photo right) at the Technology and Science Development Center compound in Serpong, Tangerang regency, on Wednesday morning.

The drugs comprised 1.6 tons of marijuana, 5.8 kilograms (kg) of cocaine, 1.2 kg of heroin, 2.2 kg of shabu-shabu (crystal methamphetamine), 30 liters of amphetamine, 37,000 ecstasy pills and 2,520 barbiturate pills.

The incinerator, however, leaked, causing some of the witnesses to become dizzy.

City police deputy chief Brig. Gen. Nanang Sukarna said that the drugs had been confiscated in cases investigated by the Greater Jakarta police since January of this year.

Comr. Gen. Togar Sianipar, chairman of the National Narcotics Agency who witnessed the Wednesday event, said drug cases continued to increase during the 1998-2003 period.

The number of cases rose by 91.33 percent from 1998-1999, 89.74 percent from 1999-2000, 3.99 percent from 2000-2001, and 3.7 percent from 2001-2003, he said.

Togar said at least 5,310 suspects had been arrested from 1998 to 2003.