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JP/4/scene3 BNN seizes ecstasy raw materials

JAKARTA: The National Narcotics Agency (BNN) has seized hundreds of kilograms of a chemical used to make ecstasy pills in a house located in Bukit Sentul area in Bogor.

Agency director Comr. Gen. Sutanto said on Wednesday that the chemical agent -- pipironil methyl-ketone (PMK) -- was stored inside 17 50-kilogram drums inside a hidden chamber in a luxurious house in Jl. Legian.

"We found this location from a suspect named Bertje, who was arrested earlier (last week) at an ecstasy factory located in Jasinga, Bogor.

"Each kilogram of this chemical agent could produce around 3,500 ecstasy pills worth around Rp 300 billion (US$31,578)," Sutanto said.

He said the chemical agents could have been imported from China and Singapore and said the agency would closely monitor sea trade from the two countries. -- JP