Two men arrested for trafficking drugs

JAKARTA (JP): Central Jakarta Police detectives have arrested two brothers for allegedly consuming and trafficking low-grade heroin and marijuana.

City Police spokesman Lt. Col. E. Aritonang said yesterday the two, identified only as Hen, 29, and Sam, 28, were caught during a raid at a house on Jl. Kebon Kacang Tuesday night.

"The two were found high when the officers raided their house," he said.

According to Aritonang, the police detectives also seized at least three marijuana cigarettes, five syringes, spoons, three small packages of low-grade heroin, locally known as putauw, and Rp 4 million (US$500) cash at the scene.

"The local police are still looking for the mother of the two men who is believed to have led the family's drug business," said Aritonang.

At a separate occasion, Central Jakarta Police chief Lt. Col. Iman Haryatna said that the family was likely linked with other drug networks, particularly dealers from Nigeria.

Iman said that Hen, Sam and their mother, who was identified only as Al, were suspected of selling drugs for at least the last three months.

"Hen told officers during interrogation that he had been supplied by a Nigerian distributor here and that the business had given him and his family huge profits," he said.

Hen also said that his mother was responsible for managing all of the money gained from the transactions and the supply of drugs as well, Iman said.

The putauw, for instance, was being sold at about Rp 300,000 per 1.5 grams, he said. Their main buyers reportedly were students.

If found guilty of consuming the drugs, the men could face a maximum of four years in jail.

But they could be jailed for a maximum of 20 years and fined up to Rp 1 billion if they were found guilty of trading the drugs.

Marijuana

The South Jakarta police also apprehended an alleged drug user in his house in Jagakarsa with 10 grams of putauw and a gram of marijuana in his possession on Tuesday night.

The suspect, Edi Fitriadi, 26, was arrested along with three other people during a raid on the house on Jl. Moch. Kahfi, Aritonang said.

The other three were released later due to a lack of evidence against them, the officer said.

"There was no hard evidence to prove that the three men possessed or trafficked the drugs," he said.

"All evidence has so far led us only to Edi. He is charged of illegally possessing and keeping the drugs," he said.

He said Edi was under the influence of drugs when the officers broke into the house while the three other men were not.

"Edi even admitted that the confiscated drugs were his," said Aritonang.

He said the raid on Edi's house was made following reports from local residents about the group of youths, who often reportedly gathered at the house.

Aritonang said Edi would be charged under Article 79 of the 1997 Narcotics Law Number 22 for illegally possessing and keeping narcotics.

If found guilty, Edi could face a maximum of seven years in jail and a Rp 250 million (US$33,333) fine. (cst)