Oil and Firecrackers Thrown at Drug Store in Pasar Rebo

Drug stores operating in Pasar Rebo, East Jakarta, have come under attack by unknown assailants who threw oil and firecrackers at the premises. The incident occurred on Saturday, 7 March in the evening on Jalan Raya Bogor, Kecamatan Pasar Rebo.

The firecracker attack, which was shared widely on social media, involved perpetrators riding motorcycles who ignited firecrackers and directed them at the shop. Motorcyclists who happened to be shopping at the time had to take evasive action. The first round of firecrackers entered the store and exploded, with shop owners forced to duck for cover.

According to audio from videos of the incident, the attackers appeared motivated by anger at the shop’s sale of pharmaceutical substances without proper licensing, which they claimed was harmful to young people.

Pasar Rebo Police Sector Commander AKP I Wayan Wijaya confirmed that three drug stores in the area had been attacked. He stated that the shops were originally leased for other purposes—such as cosmetics, mobile phones, and household goods like tissues—but had allegedly been misused for selling unauthorised pharmaceutical products, specifically Schedule G narcotics.

“The shops were originally meant for cosmetics, mobile phones, and tissues, but were then misused for selling hard drugs,” Wijaya explained, urging the public to report suspected illegal drug sales to police rather than engaging in vigilante justice.

In a separate incident, a shop allegedly selling tramadol was targeted when a motorcyclist threw oil at the storefront before fleeing. The shop remained occupied at the time, with customers conducting transactions. Police from Kramat Jati Sector subsequently investigated and forcibly opened the premises with local officials, finding the interior empty except for display shelves and indicating the shop owner had abandoned it.