Police seize 8,000 ecstasy pills

Police seize 8,000 ecstasy pills

JAKARTA (JP): Police detectives seized 8,000 ecstasy pills
from 24-year-old businessman Johan Markoan's home in the Taman
Palem Sari housing complex in Cengkareng, West Jakarta.

Detective Insp. Mulyono of the Cengkareng Police station said
on Wednesday his personnel also confiscated a machine for
pressing ecstasy pills, caffeine powder and a drum of alcohol
from the house during the Tuesday evening raid.

The arrest was made following the discovery of a machine for
pressing ecstasy pills in a Daihatsu Zebra van driven by a man
identified as Subroto. The discovery was made by police officer
First Sgt. Antonius.

Antonius learned the van and the machine were owned by Johan,
Mulyono said.

The officer said Johan was charged with producing ecstasy
pills, a violation of Article 60 of the Law on Psychotropic
Substances, which carries a maximum sentence of 15 years in jail
and a fine of Rp 200 million.

Johan told reporters he was not involved with any drug
trafficking syndicates.

"I don't have any networks. I am a new player in the drug
business," he said, adding that he began producing ecstasy two
months ago.(asa)