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.