Teenagers netted in disco raids

JAKARTA (JP): Thirty-eight people, 36 of whom are teenagers, were arrested during raids by a special security task force on four night spots in Central Jakarta over the weekend.

On Friday night and early Saturday police raided the Rio Dangdut Discotheque and Joy Karaoke on Jl. Hasyim Ashari, the Domino Discotheque on Jl. Batu Ceper and the Exotic Discotheque in the Mangga Besar shopping complex.

Bunyamin Mursyid, who lead the raids, said on Saturday that 34 of the 36 teenagers had no ID cards with them.

"We also found seven Ecstasy pills and confiscated nine marijuana cigarettes from two of the disco visitors. The pills were found scattered on a table and the floor of the Domino Discotheque," he said.

The young people without valid ID cards will stand trial for violating city regulations next week, while those found in possession of marijuana will be transferred to police custody.

The 100 security personnel from various mayoralty offices, including the local military garrison, also discovered 30 rooms believed to be used for prostitution at the Exotic Discotheque. (sur)