Police Arrest Four Drug Dealers in Jakarta, Seize 995 Grams of Synthetic Tobacco
The Narcotics Directorate of the Greater Jakarta Metropolitan Police (Polda Metro Jaya) has uncovered a network distributing synthetic narcotics. Four people were arrested in the operation.
Head of Sub-Directorate 1 of the Narcotics Directorate, Police Commissioner Indah Hartantiningrum, said officers seized evidence in the form of synthetic tobacco, known locally as “sinte”. A total of 995 grams of synthetic tobacco was seized.
“The Narcotics Directorate of Polda Metro Jaya has dismantled a syndicate involved in the illicit distribution of category one narcotics in the form of synthetic tobacco,” Indah said on Monday (3/8/2026).
She explained that the operation began after officers received information about synthetic tobacco circulating at a rented house in the Pasar Minggu area of South Jakarta. Officers followed up on the report and secured a 27-year-old man with the initial R.
“Four suspects were arrested at four different locations across South and East Jakarta. They used rented houses in densely populated areas to disguise their sales activities of the finished product,” she said.
Police then conducted a search at the raid location, finding numerous packets of synthetic tobacco stored in bags and plastic sacks. The perpetrator admitted to entrusting the illegal goods to a 28-year-old suspect with the initial W for distribution.
“From the search, we secured evidence including ready-to-distribute packaged synthetic tobacco with a gross weight of 995 grams, 850 grams of herbal vegetation, precursors, digital scales, cooking equipment, production masks, communication devices containing digital traces of chemical raw material orders, and other items related to the crime,” she explained.
Police then pursued further investigations and arrested two other individuals: a 26-year-old with the initial R and a 21-year-old with the initial M. The four perpetrators each played different roles in the drug distribution operation.
“Police also carried out searches at several other locations in East Jakarta. From these locations, officers found various supporting items of evidence, including hundreds of ready-to-distribute synthetic tobacco packets, production materials and equipment, digital scales, plastic packaging, adhesive tape, jerry cans containing liquids suspected of being used in the manufacturing process, and several mobile phones believed to have been used as communication tools for narcotics transactions,” she said.
Based on the investigation, the suspects marketed the synthetic tobacco using a mapping system, directing buyers to specific points where the goods would be left for collection.
“The suspects and the evidence have been taken to the Polda Metro Jaya Narcotics Directorate office for further investigation,” she concluded.