Officer nabbed at drug party

Officer nabbed at drug party

Oyos Saroso H.N., Jakarta Post, Bandar Lampung, Lampung

In their latest move against drug abuse across the province, the Lampung police arrested on Thursday a middle-ranking Air Force officer.

Lampung Drug Squad chief Comr. Bonar Sitinjak said on Friday that the officer, identified only as Lt. Col. BSG, 46, was caught red-handed using crystal methamphetamine (shabu-shabu) during a night raid on the house of Wr, dubbed the King of Putaw (low- grade heroin) in the provincial capital.

BSG, who works at Husein Sastranegara airbase in Bandung, was found with three packets of methamphetamine hidden in his cigarette case when he was arrested

The police also arrested his three friends and younger brother, who had also used the drug at the party.

Sitinjak said police were determined to take tougher measures against drug users following the military officer's arrest.

"We will take action against whoever abuses drugs regardless of their status. Drug abuse in Bandar Lampung is already a problem," he said.

The Antidrug Movement (Granat) chapter here has accused certain military officers and councillors of supporting drug- dealing syndicates. The non-governmental organization said the drugs were distributed to the three main towns of Bandar Lampung, Central Lampung, and Tulangbawang.

A survey conducted by Granat revealed that most of the karaoke centers in Bandar Lampung offered facilities for their customers to use drugs in a special room. Their customers included housewives, businesspeople, students and councillors.

The karaoke managers operated a security system that could warn its "VIP" customers in the event of a raid carried out by local police, the survey said.

"Almost every night we find youngsters overdose on shabu-shabu and inex. We are used to seeing youngsters "fly" as they leave karaoke lounges," Yati, 32, a waitress at a 24-hour restaurant in the city said.

The drugs can be found not only at nightspots, but at campuses and even villages.

"In villages the drugs most readily available are lexhotan and koplo pills, both types of amphetamine. They even take the drugs with them when fishing." said Toni Eka Chandra, chairman of Granat's Lampung provincial chapter.