Two men arrested for supplying 'ganja'

JAKARTA (JP): Two men wanted by police for their alleged involvement in a drug network were arrested at a hotel in Kramat Sentiong, Central Jakarta, with 17 kilograms of Aceh-grown ganja (marijuana) in their possession, police said yesterday.

City police spokesman Lt. Col. E. Aritonang said the two were arrested red-handed on Thursday night after selling marijuana to undercover detectives.

He identified the suspects as Arifin Ibrahim, 26, and Ahmad Husein, 28.

"We've been looking for these two since August after the capture of two marijuana dealers who named them as their suppliers."

He said that on Aug. 21 last year the two alleged dealers -- Ahmad, 33, and Agus, 40 -- were arrested for selling and supplying marijuana to drug vendors in the city.

Ahmad was arrested in Pisangan Baru, East Jakarta with half a kilogram of marijuana in his possession, while Agus was apprehended at his house in Johar Baru, Central Jakarta with two and a half kilograms of marijuana, he said.

Aritonang said the two admitted that they had sold marijuana, supplied by Arifin, for one year.

He said undercover detectives finally made contact with Arifin and Ahmad and plotted a transaction with the two at the Kencana Puri hotel on Thursday.

The two did not resist arrest but protested their innocence, he said.

"Arifin is believed to have obtained the marijuana supplies from an illegal cannabis plantation in Aceh," Aritonang said.

An ounce of dried marijuana has a street value of at least Rp 350,000 (US$29).

He said Arifin and Ahmad could deny the allegations but police had enough evidence and confessions from other suspects to ensure the men serve jail terms, he said.

If they are found guilty, the suspects will face life imprisonment or at least 20 years in jail and a maximum fine of Rp 1 billion for violating Article 82 of the 1997 Narcotics Law No. 22. (cst)