W. Jakarta destroys 179,000 bottles

The West Jakarta authorities crushed more than 179,000 bottles of alcoholic beverages with bulldozers at a ceremony attended by mayoralty officials on Wednesday.

The beverages, with a more than five percent alcohol content, were seized by the military sponsored Operation Cleansing team during a series of raids in the mayoralty between April and August.

During the four-month operation, the team also arrested five people, who were tried at the West Jakarta District Court on Aug. 30. The court ordered the defendants to pay a fine of Rp 1,000 ( 80 U.S. cents) for selling alcoholic beverages without permits. (has)