Drugs burned, spectators get high

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.