Police arrest ecstasy producers in Riau
Fadli, The Jakarta Post, Batam
Police said they had confiscated almost 15,000 ecstasy pills worth more than Rp 500 million and arrested six people suspected of producing and distributing the illegal drugs in Riau province.
The suspects -- identified as A. Hai, 29; Doni, 22; Ahmad, 34; Andi, 20; Surya, 24 and Acing, 44 -- were rounded up last Friday afternoon in Meral subdistrict of Tanjung Balai Karimun regency.
"They were the target of operations for the last several months... Based on the preliminary probe, they come from Pekanbaru, Riau, and were trying to expand (their) business in Tanjung Balai Karimun," said Riau Islands District Police chief Adj. Sr. Comr. Agung Sabar Santoso on Monday.
He said Hai, Doni and Ahmad are being charged with producing the narcotic, while their three accomplices -- Andi, Surya and Acing -- are accused of distributing the drug.
Also seized during the raid on Ahmad's house where the ecstasy pills were made were manufacturing machines, materials and other equipment necessary for manufacturing the drugs, such as plastics packages and a large bag, as well as a red Escudo car.
"All the equipment were foreign-made supplies," Agung told The Jakarta Post.
He said the suspects admitted they had planned to sell their homemade ecstasy for Rp 40,000 a pill. Should they have succeeded in selling the 14,726 pills found during the raid, they would have pocketed more than Rp 589 million.
The suspects said they needed only Rp 10 million as capital to produce such a large quantity of pills, Agung added.
Further, they also confessed that they had the capacity to produce 500 pills per day, but denied distributing any of the pills. It remains unclear when the suspects commenced production, but Agung said police believe they have operated the illegal business for a long time in Riau.
"We are tracking down their network to its core to find the suppliers of the machines and drug-making materials. We have obtained their names," he said.
The police's success in cracking down on drug dealers in Tanjung Balai Karimun has been lauded by members of the local legislative council, who also urged the security authorities to fully uncover the drug cases and not to be content with a half- hearted effort.
"The police should not be afraid of (encountering) those backing up the distribution of drugs. They destroy the nation's generation. We support the police for their firm stance in cracking down on drugs," Muhammad Ras, a senior councillor, told the Post.
It is common knowledge in Indonesia that many military and police officers are involved in distributing drugs and other illegal businesses, including brothels and prostitution rings, across the country.
Despite the fact that these practices are strictly prohibited by the law, security commanders have appeared to be either powerless or reluctant to take stern measures against rogue subordinates.
Muhammad said the people of Tanjung Bali Karimun were worried about the distribution of ecstasy pills and other illegal drugs, as entertainment facilities there have supported the growth of the business.
A case in point, he said, was the city's Ozon discotheque, the largest nightclub on the island of Sumatra. The legislator accused the discotheque of playing a role in facilitating the development of drug deals and spread of prostitution in the regency.
"We will ask the Balai Tanjung Karimun regent to review the operational licenses of the discotheques. If they pose more dangers than goodness, it should better be shut down," Muhammad added.