Rp 10b worth drugs destroyed

The Jakarta Police's narcotics division on Friday burned US$1.17 million of confiscated drugs used as evidence in a series of cases since November.

The evidence destroyed included 2.824 kilograms of heroin, 3.5 kg of crystal methamphetamine, 800 milliliters of liquid methamphetamine, and 50,000 ecstasy pills.

However, the number of ecstasy pills destroyed was 5,000 less than the total police said they had seized from a West Jakarta home laboratory earlier this year. They did not explain the discrepancy on Friday.

"The total value of the evidence is estimated to be worth Rp 10 billion (US$1.17 million)," division chief Adj. Sr. Comr. Anjan P. Putra said.

The evidence was seized from seven suspects who are believed to be members of four different syndicates.

The suspects, who are about to face the courts, are Lau Yohannes alias Abe; Chandra Andi Iriyanto alias Andi; Ong Ye An Tey alias Yanti; Fatimah Wijaya alias Babby; Silverter Obeikwe; Daniel Enemuio alias Diarrassouba Mamadou; and Okeke Nelson Sunday alias Orenge Moa Mwangai.

Lau Yohannes and Chandra were arrested for the ecstasy pills at a home lab in the Taman Palem Lestari business area in Cengkareng, West Jakarta in January.

Daniel and Okeke, both Nigerians, were also arrested in January. The two had swallowed capsules full of heroin which were recovered by police.

Yanti and Babby are suspected to be part of a methampetamine manufacturing syndicate and were arrested in November last year. -- JP