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)