Police Bust Sale of Prescription Drugs Disguised as Grocery Stores in South Jakarta

The Narcotics Unit of the South Jakarta Metropolitan Police Resort has uncovered the practice of selling prescription drugs in several areas. Three suspects with initials MJ, MI, and MRA were arrested at three different locations.

South Jakarta Metropolitan Police Chief, Kombes I Putu Yuni Setiawan, stated that the suspects used the modus operandi of disguising themselves as grocery stores. The three suspects were apprehended in the Kebayoran, Kemang, and Cilandak areas.

“Based on information from the community, we successfully uncovered the case of prescription drug distribution in several areas of South Jakarta,” said Putu in a written statement on Wednesday (15/4/2026).

“We received information from residents around the crime scenes that there was a grocery store that, in addition to selling daily necessities and groceries, also sold and distributed dangerous drugs or psychotropics,” he added.

Meanwhile, the Head of the Narcotics Unit of the South Jakarta Metropolitan Police Resort, AKBP Prasetyo Nugroho, explained that the prescription drugs were sold to various groups. Most of the buyers, he said, were construction workers.

“Those who frequently visit and buy from the grocery store are ordinary people who usually work as construction labourers,” Prasetyo stated.

From this case revelation, the police confiscated 8,286 pills of prescription drugs of various brands and a sum of cash suspected to be the proceeds of sales. Currently, the three suspects have been designated as defendants and are being held at the South Jakarta Metropolitan Police Resort Detention Centre. The suspects face a maximum penalty of 12 years in prison.

Prasetyo also urged the public, especially the younger generation, to stay away from consuming psychotropic prescription drugs and to report to the police via the 110 service if they find information related to narcotics distribution.