Police find Ecstasy in bowling bag

JAKARTA (JP): The South Jakarta police have arrested a man for allegedly possessing and selling Ecstasy pills at a bowling alley in the Blok M shopping center in South Jakarta.

Puspa Irianto was arrested on Monday evening with 570 Ecstasy pills in his sports bag, City Police Spokesman Lt. Col. Iman Haryatna said yesterday.

The estimated market value of the green pills, labeled with the initials RN, is around Rp 30 million (US$ 12,765).

According to Iman, the suspect was arrested following a tip- off by someone at the bowling alley on Jl. Melawai IX.

Based on the tip-off, several police officers led by Second Sergeant Hengky Juniarto went straight to the bowling alley.

Besides the pills, the police found a pair of bowling shoes and a ball inside Puspa's bag.

Spokesman Iman said the police have charged the suspect according to health law No. 23 issued in 1992.

Based on the regulation, Puspa, if found guilty, may be imprisoned for up to seven years or fined up to Rp 140 million.

Police are still questioning several witnesses in relation to the arrest.

Following the weekend's intense street violence in mainly Central Jakarta, the police have apparently loosened their crackdown on drugs traffickers and users at the city's nightspots.

Saturday's riots have also affected the revenue of many nightspots in the city.

"All the nightspots are still open but there have been very few girls and patrons since Saturday evening," a security guard in Mangga Besar told The Jakarta Post yesterday.

Mangga Besar is home to dozens of massage parlors, karaoke rooms and discos. Some offer prostitution and gambling. (bsr)