Residents and security forces raid hard drug distribution site in Duren Sawit

Jakarta (ANTARA) - Residents joined forces with Indonesian Military (TNI) and National Police (Polri) personnel to raid a location suspected of frequently being used for Category G hard drug transactions in the Banjir Kanal Timur (BKT) inspection road area, Pondok Kopi, Duren Sawit, East Jakarta. “We saw and heard information from the community that there were many drugs at that location. Initially we did not know what kind of drugs, then together with the police and the TNI we conducted a check, a raid,” said a resident, Ipit Purwanto, in East Jakarta on Tuesday. During the raid, officers seized hundreds of hard drug pills, cash suspected to be proceeds from sales, and a motorcycle abandoned by the perpetrators as they fled. The raid was conducted after residents received numerous reports from the community regarding suspicious activities believed to be linked to the distribution of hard drugs at the location. Information received indicated that the area was often used as a place for illicit drug transactions, disturbing the surrounding community. After receiving many public reports, residents then coordinated with TNI and Polri officers to conduct a direct inspection. “After tracing it to several hidden places, various hard drugs were found. We hope the authorities will not only secure the evidence but also arrest the perpetrators who managed to escape when the inspection was carried out,” he explained. Based on information obtained from the community, transactions were suspected to occur almost daily, causing unrest in the surrounding environment. When the raid took place, the suspected perpetrators, estimated to number three people, immediately fled upon learning of the arrival of the residents and officers. Ipit disclosed that the perpetrators carried out their sales activities covertly after the location previously used for trading faced rejection from the community. Although they had been warned several times, the suspects allegedly continued their activities by moving around within that area. Previously, residents together with TNI and Polri officers had also visited the same location and dismantled structures or places suspected of being used as facilities for hard drug transactions. However, these efforts had not completely stopped the activities of the perpetrators, who resumed operating secretly. “We hope the police will conduct patrols and supervision at this location more often so that the perpetrators do not return to operate. Residents want this environment to be safe and free from the circulation of illegal drugs,” said Ipit. After the raid, all evidence in the form of hundreds of hard drug pills, cash suspected to be transaction proceeds, and the motorcycle left behind by the perpetrators were immediately secured by officers for further investigation purposes. The suspected Category G hard drug distribution case is currently being handled by the Duren Sawit Police Sector. Police are continuing to develop the case to identify and pursue the perpetrators who fled during the raid.