In a major haul, police confiscate Rp 2 billion in drugs

JAKARTA (JP): Police confiscated on Monday evening over 5.5 million sedative pills from five people in a raid in North Jakarta, an officer said on Tuesday.

City police detectives chief Col. Alex Bambang Riatmodjo identified the five suspects as Sutarman Sutrisno, alias Benny, 44, Tandiyono Helena, alias Hendra, 36, Bukit Chandra, 44, Munik Astuti, 28, and Erywati Sutedja, 45.

"City police detectives received information from an anonymous person on Monday that the suspects were drug suppliers and all their neighbors knew about this. The neighbors felt very uneasy but did not dare to say or do anything about it," Alex told reporters in his office.

The confiscated drugs were valued at Rp 2 billion (US$270,000).

The drugs seized include 2,351,000 BK pills, 853,050 nipam pills, 449,750 Rohypnol pills, 128,200 Magadon pills, 785,375 Lexotan pills and 36,000 Rivotril pills, 289,000 Artane pills, 167,080 "G" category pills, 260,000 Codeine pills, 138,000 Dumolid pills, and 14,000 Ratrin pills.

Alex said police took immediate action upon receiving the information.

"Bukit Chandra was the first drug supplier caught at a Padang restaurant in Pluit, North Jakarta. He was carrying 50 strips of Lexotan pills with him. Not far from the restaurant was Benny's home, on Jl. Pluit Dalam I," Alex said.

"Bukit's information led us to the other three. Benny, Hendra and Munik were caught and arrested at Benny's home. Police then went to Penjaringan subdistrict in North Jakarta, where they caught Erywati."

The five later confessed to police that all their "goods" were stored in a warehouse in Jelambar, West Jakarta.

Alex said that during preliminary questioning, the two female suspects remained silent and the three males spoke very little.

"They did not want to tell me whom they sold the drugs to and where they got the drugs from," he said.

In the press conference, Benny, Bukit and Hendra were ordered by Alex to squat in front of reporters. The suspects covered their faces with their hands and spoke only when Alex asked questions.

Alex was surprised to hear from a reporter that Benny had been arrested and jailed for a similar crime before.

"Is it true, Benny? Don't lie to me. All I have to do is check with police records," said Alex, staring down at Benny.

"No, sir. I have never been caught before," said the moustached man, quietly wiping tears from his eyes.

Alex repeated his first question when reporters pushed further and screamed at Benny to confess.

Benny eventually confessed that he had been caught in possession of drugs in 1997 by the North Jakarta Police and was jailed.

"I got out in six months, sir," Benny said.

Article 60 of Law No. 5/1997 on Psychotropic Substances carries a maximum penalty of 15 years in jail or a fine of up to Rp 200 million. There is no minimum penalty stated.

In a related development, police confiscated on Tuesday morning a quantity of candu (opium, from which heroin is made), two plastic packets containing shabu-shabu (crystal methamphetamine), marijuana and a bong (a tool used for smoking drugs) from nine people in a raid on Jl. Garuda in Kemayoran, Central Jakarta.

The arrested suspects included Yerry Kleian, alias Jerry, 36, a graduate from a private university and Acep bin Sadikun, 67, a retired civil servant.

In July, police confiscated 63,000 sedative pills from three people in a raid in Central Jakarta. (ylt)