Ecstasy pills factory
There has been hardly any night-club or conspicuous joint in the capital city that the police, supported by army units at times, have not raided in search of the ecstasy pills known to contain deadly narcotic substance under what ever name. The general notion so far is that these pills have been produced overseas and smuggled into the country. Apparently there has been a huge demand for these pills among the well-to-do families as well as among youth of the poor.
Everybody wanted to try the medicine creating oblivion in order to fight worries or stress. You are considered a coward if you have not tried ecstasy.
The United Nations is mounting a fanatic war against drug abuses in the form of these ecstasy pills. The public here have been blaming the mafias in countries like the United States for producing and distributing narcotics, such as ecstasy, in developing nations through their agents.
In fact, the U.S. government, as it is known, is fighting a world-wide battle, almost in vain both against terrorists as well as against illegal drug barons such as in South American countries and elsewhere.
Last week it was like lightning coming from a blue clear sky when the Indonesian police announced they had discovered the ecstasy pills were also being produced on the doorstep of Indonesia's capital city. About one million pills are produced each month, and one pill costs Rp 50,000.
The Indonesian authorities have been taken by surprise that an international illegal drug producing ring should be found in its own backyard. The drug mafia, of course, will not be discouraged by the police discovery. It knows that many things can be achieved in this country through bribery. It will be about the price tags that bargaining can now begin in earnest for the release of either the culprits or confiscated materials, at least the man in the street believes so.
Fortunately, the police are getting tougher these days. But the battle against illegal drug abuse such as the ecstasy pills is also getting tougher.
GANDHI SUKARDI
Jakarta