Police Hunt for Individuals Distributing Tramadol for Mass Protest in Central Jakarta

The Jakarta Metropolitan Police’s Narcotics Investigation Directorate is investigating information circulating on social media regarding a plan to distribute the hard drug Tramadol to a group planning to hold a demonstration in the Tanah Abang area of Central Jakarta on Monday (20/7). The Director of Narcotics Investigation at the Jakarta Metropolitan Police, Senior Commissioner Ahmad David, confirmed that the police are immediately moving to investigate the truth of the report. This step is being taken as a preventive measure to prevent the circulation of illegal drugs among the mass of protesters. ‘We will investigate immediately,’ said Ahmad David when confirmed in Jakarta on Monday evening. As a follow-up, Ahmad stated that police personnel will be deployed to conduct sweeps at several strategic points. The focus of the sweeps includes routes suspected of being used for the distribution of the hard drugs to the protest location. This information first surfaced through a post on the Instagram account @badanperwakilannetizen2. The account claimed there was an alleged organised plan to supply Tramadol targeting the Tanah Abang area in the near future. In its post, the account mentioned that certain individuals planned to distribute Tramadol to a specific group. The alleged aim was to provoke a riot during what should have been a peaceful demonstration. The post also included details of the routes that would be used to supply the drugs. The police have urged the public to remain calm and not be provoked by information that has not been fully verified, while ensuring that security in the Central Jakarta area remains tightened to anticipate potential disruptions to public safety and order.