Six arrested for 'Putauw' possession

JAKARTA (JP): Three foreigners and three Indonesians have been arrested this week for allegedly being involved in the distribution and possession of nearly two kilograms of third- grade heroin, locally called Putauw.

Police said yesterday that the three foreigners identified themselves as Nigerians but that this would be checked at the Nigerian embassy.

Information on the foreigners was obtained from the three Indonesians, who were arrested in Mangga Besar on Tuesday, police said.

Another police source said the three foreigners came from Ghana, Uganda and England.

The three Indonesians also confessed during police questioning that they obtained the drug, which is usually sold for between Rp 10,000 (US$3.70) and Rp 30,000 per fix, from the three foreigners.

The police then arrested the three foreigners at the Grand Menteng hotel in Matraman, East Jakarta, on Wednesday.

City Police Spokesman Lt. Col. E. Aritonang confirmed the arrest of the six people yesterday, but refused to give any more details, including their names.

He would only say: "The six people are now being held at the city police detention center. We are still investigating the case."

Aritonang said a team of officers was in East Java looking for another suspect, also believed to be African, who was believed to be the three foreigners' supplier.

In a related development, the police are still looking for the accomplices of two drug dealers arrested with 7,800 Ecstasy pills in North Jakarta last week.

Police said the two dealers, identified as AR and AS, were arrested with the pills -- worth at least Rp 200 million -- at a house near the Mega Mall in Pluit, North Jakarta, last Friday.

The two are believed to be closely linked to the alleged drugs 'godfather' Peter Safri Wijono, who was arrested last Thursday with 3,765,000 tranquilizer and barbiturate pills in his possession. (cst)