Pasar Minggu market drug dealer arrested

JAKARTA (JP): A coffee trader turned drug dealer has been arrested at the Pasar Minggu market in South Jakarta for illegally possessing 21,400 Nipam barbiturate pills, 3,050 BK tranquilizer pills and an ounce of marijuana.

The man, identified as Muhamadi -- alias Madi -- 28, was arrested during a police raid Tuesday afternoon.

Pasar Minggu Police found the drugs, which have a total street value of more than Rp 7.6 million (US$2,537), hidden in three stalls belonged to other traders at the market.

The stall owners were not detained but questioned as witnesses.

South Jakarta Police Chief Lt. Col. Sisno Adiwinoto said yesterday that Madi had confessed to selling drugs for the past four months.

"He has violated the 1997 Psychotropic Law No. 5 on the possession and sale of psychotropic drugs and the 1976 Narcotics Law No. 9 on the possession and sale of marijuana as well," Sisno said.

According to the psychotropic law, if Madi is found guilty he will face between four and 15 years imprisonment and between Rp 150 million and Rp 750,000 million in fines.

If found guilty of the narcotics charges, he may be sentenced to life in prison or a maximum of 20 years jail plus a maximum fine of Rp 30 million.

Sisno said police were still looking for the suspect's alleged accomplices, whose identities were known.

Police said other alleged drug dealers in the area, who had been arrested previously, provided officers with the information on Madi.

The first unidentified alleged dealer was captured with 50 Nipam pills in his possession which he claimed were supplied by Madi.

During interrogation, Madi allegedly confessed that he stopped selling coffee beans and became a drug dealer after a man, called Ramli, invited him to sell drugs four months ago.

Madi regularly bought Nipam and BK pills from Ramli and sold them to drug users in the Pasar Minggu area, he allegedly said.

He sold the Nipam and BK pills for about Rp 2,500 for a strip of 10 pills.

It was still unclear whether Madi also bought the marijuana, which has a street value of at least Rp 1.5 million, from Ramli.

Madi said his supplier was also a drug dealer who ran his own illegal business under the Senen flyover bridge in Central Jakarta.

For years the area has been notorious for its drug-related activities. It is well-known that cheap drugs like Nipam and BK are commonly sold at street drugstores around the Senen market.

Police said Ramli was still at large. (cst)