Police arrest ecstasy producers in Riau

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.