Three nabbed for peddling 'putaw'

JAKARTA: Police arrested three teenagers in a vacant house in Gambir area in Central Jakarta late on Monday for allegedly selling putaw (low grade heroin) and lexothan pills.

The three were identified as Idris Mardianto, Yosi Haryanto and Barlian -- who are all residents of Kalideres in West Jakarta.

Initially police received reports from nearby residents who said that people frequented the vacant house on Jl. Makmur at odd hours and seemed to be engaged in some kind of dubious business.

During the arrest, police confiscated five packages of putaw and 20 lexothan pills.

In their preliminary questioning, the three confessed that they were told by the house owner to maintain the house and to serve customers who came to the house.

Police are still searching for the house owner, whose identity has not been revealed. --JP