Couple follows dead son in drug trafficking

JAKARTA (JP): A couple, whose son died tragically in a Jakarta jail last year after being convicted for drug trafficking, were arrested at their Johar Baru house in Central Jakarta allegedly for a similar offense on Wednesday.

Johar Baru Police Chief Maj. Sukatmanto told reporters that his men seized 25 packages of putaw (heroin) from 52-year old Ramdani and his 40-year old wife Ijah following a tip from users who were arrested hours earlier.

The couple admitted that they bought the low grade heroin from Saut, a friend of their late son, Komaruddin.

"Komaruddin was a drug trafficker and was imprisoned in Salemba prison where he was killed in a quarrel," Ijah said.

She said that they bought a small pack of putaw at Rp 150,000 and repackaged the drug into 15 to 20 smaller packages, which they sold to local students and jobless.

"I know drugs can kill, but we are desperate for money to support our three children," Ijah said, adding that they could earn Rp 25,000 daily from selling the drugs.

In arresting the couple, police used the four men who were arrested earlier to pretend to buy more putaw from them.

The four -- Nursani and Asep, who are both jobless, and Indra and Ardiansyah, both students -- were nabbed at an empty house in Johar Baru while sharing the drugs. (06)