National Police Criminal Investigation Unit Raids Illegal Whip Pink Factory in Jakarta with Billions in Turnover
The Indonesian National Police’s Criminal Investigation Unit (Bareskrim Polri) has uncovered a production house and distribution network for illegal Nitrous Oxide (N2O) gas branded Whip Pink in Jakarta.
Director of Narcotics Crimes at Bareskrim Polri, Brigadier General Eko Hadi Santoso, stated that a total of three production sites were raided on Monday and Tuesday (13-14/4) in Central, East, and North Jakarta.
He explained that the three production sites were under the auspices of PT Suplaindo Sukses Sejahtera and confirmed to lack circulation permits from the Food and Drug Supervisory Agency (BPOM).
“PT Suplaindo Sukses Sejahtera does not yet have legality and BPOM circulation permits related to the production and sale of Whip Pink brand N2O gas products,” he said in a written statement on Wednesday (15/4).
Eko said that from the raids on two shophouses in Kemayoran, Central Jakarta, and Pademangan, North Jakarta, police seized thousands of N2O gas canisters ready for distribution in various flavours and weight sizes.
The details include 1,784 canisters of various variants weighing 640 to 5,100 grams. Additionally, 274 empty canisters ready for refilling, thousands of nozzles, automatic filling machines, pressing machines, and fruit flavouring liquids were found.
“The team also discovered Whip Pink brand N2O gas products in various weights ready for distribution, packaging cartons, pink plastic labels inscribed with Whip Pink in various weights, product packaging stickers, a heat gun, and scales,” he said.
From this case disclosure, police secured nine workers for questioning as witnesses. They are Etikasati as the Whip Pink admin, Slamter Triyoni as the N2O gas filling machine operator, Sulton and Suprastyo as packing officers.
Additionally, Asep Saprijal as the product supervisor, Sugiyo as the warehouse officer, Nanang Hendrik as the delivery driver, and Ali Ramdani and Pendi as printing employees.
“It is known that the person managing the operations, from employee recruitment to production reporting, is Sanjaya,” he explained.
Furthermore, he said, it was discovered that the owners of the production sites and delivery warehouses for Whip Pink brand N2O gas are Andi Hioe, Sencen, and Jason Hioe.
Although operating without official permits, Eko said the Whip Pink business has a very extensive distribution network covering 16 warehouses in 10 major cities in Indonesia. The profits reaped were extraordinarily high, reaching Rp21.3 billion over the last five months.
“The sales turnover of this product is extraordinarily high. In December alone, it reached Rp7.1 billion, and on average per month it is between Rp2 to Rp5 billion,” he stated.
In its operations, Eko mentioned that sales employees, with the admin tasked with coordinating the delivery process to buyers by contacting the nearest warehouse.
“Then ordering online motorbike taxis to pick up from that warehouse,” he said.