Police uncover major ecstasy production center
JAKARTA (JP): Police detectives have uncovered a major ecstasy pill production center in Kebon Jeruk, West Jakarta, and arrested two people, one of them an Australian, for their alleged involvement, an officer said on Wednesday.
City Police detective chief Col. Alex Bambang Riatmodjo said the two people were identified as Agustian Chandra, alias Yosef, 35, and David Mark Sinclair, 37.
Agustian was arrested on Tuesday at his house in Kebon Jeruk, believed to have been the location to make the drug, after apprehending Sinclair earlier at a hotel in Central Jakarta.
"The two are undergoing intensive questioning at our headquarters for, if possible, further investigation," said Alex, who believed that there were still other people connected.
Along with the arrest, detectives of the narcotics unit also seized 1,054 ecstasy pills, two kilograms of white powder base, 20 pill molds, 14 bottles of chemical liquid, powder scales and a pill-making device from the house.
Sinclair, who owns a house in Yogyakarta, was arrested following a tip from an unidentified man several hours before the raid on Agustian's house was conducted.
Based on the tip, police learned drug transactions were frequently done at the hotel, Alex said.
The arrest took place at about 11 a.m. by undercover officers who pretended to look for the pills by asking several hotel janitors and waiters.
"They suggested us to go to room 1515 where Sinclair was staying," Lt. Col. Abdullah, who led the arrest, said.
At first Sinclair, a resident of St. Darling Hurst in Sydney, denied that he was selling any drugs, but when police offered him cash, he pulled out several pills from his jacket, Abdullah said.
From Sinclair, who has spent 17 years in the country, police seized 65 ecstasy pills -- 60 from his jacket and five from his wallet.
Preliminary questioning of Sinclair revealed that he was not working alone, and he led police to Agustian's house in Kebon Jeruk.
Abdullah said Agustian did not refuse arrest after police detectives found the materials, samples and equipment to process them inside the house.
Sinclair, who spoke fluent Indonesian, said, "I'm only a victim. I bought only five of the pills and had no intention of selling them."
"We got enough evidence when we arrested the two," Abdullah said later.
Police also said they would prepare documents to notify the Australian Embassy here about the arrest.
"We have notified them but we still are preparing the documents," he said.
If found guilty, Agustian and Sinclair could face charges of violating Article 60 of Law No. 5/1997 on Psychotropic Drugs which carries a maximum penalty of 15 years imprisonment and fines up to Rp 200 million (US$26,666). (emf/03)