Police Raid 4 Drug Dens in Jakarta Worth Billions of Rupiah

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Jakarta Metropolitan Police (Polda Metro Jaya) Narcotics Research Directorate has completed a raid on four gorilla tobacco narcotics factories in Jakarta that had supplied synthetic narcotics to Jakarta, South Tangerang, Cirebon and Bandung.  

"These factories have produced around 10 kilograms of gorilla tobacco, a total of around Rp4.5 billion if sold to the market," said Jakarta Metropolitan Police Chief of Public Relations, Sr. Comr. Yusri Yunus when confirmed, on Friday, April 3, 2020.  

Yusri stated the police had conducted investigations from March 17 to March 31, 2020, prior to executing the raid simultaneously.  

“We apprehended a total of 12 suspects. Specifically, there are five suspects in Tangerang and one in Jagakarsa. There are three places in Bandung, West Java, with a total of five suspects and one in Cirebon," Yusri said.  

During the raid, the police confiscated various kinds of incriminating evidence, such as the equipment to prepare gorilla tobacco. In addition, the police also seized 10 kilograms of finished gorilla tobacco and 7 kilograms of cannabinoid seeds, which are chemicals needed for the manufacture of gorilla tobacco.  

The suspects are currently detained at the Jakarta Metropolitan Police Detention Center to undergo further investigations. Yusri added the 12 suspects had been charged with articles on narcotics with a maximum penalty of life imprisonment.

M Julnis Firmansyah | Dio Suhenda (Intern Translator)