Ectasy suspect dies during police raid

Ectasy suspect dies during police raid

JAKARTA (JP): A suspected trafficker of the banned drug
Ecstasy, a mind-altering drug popular among teenagers, died
during a police raid in South Jakarta yesterday.

Paulus Hendrawan, also known as Wawan, 24, a university
student and the son of an army general, is believed to have taken
an overdose of the drug.

National police spokesman Brig. Gen. I.K. Ratta said that
Wawan was very ill when police stormed room No. 316 of the
Kebayoran Inn hotel at about 12:15 a.m. He said Wawan was with a
friend when police entered the room.

According to Ratta, the raid was conducted following a tip-off
that a drug transaction was due to take place at the hotel.

"He was foaming at the mouth and was vomiting, while his body
was stiff," said Ratta.

He said Wawan was the first person to die from Ecstasy use in
Jakarta.

Wawan died on the way to the Kramat Jati police hospital in
East Jakarta, Ratta said. "His friend had tried to save him, but
failed."

The other suspect, identified only as "RPL", 25, a
businessman, is being held for in-depth interrogation at the
Narcotics Division Office of the National Police Crime
Investigation Directorate.

Police said they found seven Ecstasy pills in the hotel room,
as well as one gram of Ecstasy powder, several grams of cocaine
in five small envelopes and Rp 1,256,000 (US$552) in cash.

Another Ecstasy pill was also found in Wawan's pocket.

Researchers say Ecstasy damages the brain cells that release
the neurotransmitter serotonin, thought to be involved in the
regulation of mood.

Over the past few months, police have declared war on drug
dealers and users in the city.

Early this month, a suspected drug trafficker from Africa,
believed to be a member of an international syndicate, went
missing from a city police cell. (bsr)