Ecstasy in East Java

Ecstasy in East Java

SURABAYA, East Java: Provincial Police Chief Maj. Gen.
Sumarsono said that the designer drug Ecstasy, now widely
circulating throughout Indonesia, entered here through Bali from
countries such as Australia and Germany, Antara reported
yesterday.

Sumarsono then apologized to the press for having to cover up
many facts about drug trafficking in the province. "The police
and journalists are partners. But I'm sorry, there are many
things related to Ecstasy which cannot be disclosed," he said.

Police have been intensifying their campaign against drugs --
especially Ecstasy -- in the tourism island of Bali.

Only last week, police arrested four people for attempting to
smuggle in more than 45,000 Ecstasy pills worth over Rp 4.5
billion (US$2 million).

Police identified the suspects as Isac Thayeb, 43, from
Ujungpandang, who was in possession of 30,464 pills; Bob Said,
38, from Amsterdam, with 100 pills; Dartono, 35, from Medan, with
9,771 pills; and Wirht Wesley Delano, 41, from Suriname, with
5,635 pills.

Earlier this month, Denpasar police confiscated 20,781 Ecstasy
pills at the Bali Ngurah Rai International Airport. (swe)