West Jakarta Police raid drug factory, seize Rp119 bln in narcotics

3 hours ago

Jakarta (ANTARA) – West Jakarta Police have busted a drug factory linked to an international syndicate, seizing narcotics and production materials valued at Rp119 billion (US$6.64 million) during the raid.

“The seized materials, if produced as drugs, may reach and affect 3.5 million individuals. Their market value is estimated at Rp119 billion,” West Jakarta Police Chief Senior Commissioner Nasriadi stated during a press conference on Wednesday.

Nasriadi said officers seized 308,000 carisoprodol capsules, weighing a total of 130 kilograms, along with one ton of unprocessed carisoprodol powder stored in 40 drums.

They also confiscated 195 packages of “happy water,” 500 grams of ketamine, and 1,650 kilograms of other raw materials used in drug production.

Seven individuals, including a Chinese national, were arrested during the raid, he added.

Following confirmation by the prosecutor and the court, the seized materials were destroyed at the same press conference.

Meanwhile, the head of the Drug Crimes Investigation Unit in West Jakarta Police, Adjunct Senior Commissioner Vernal A. Sambo, explained that the raid took place following reports about a suspicious package sent by a courier.

Following the lead, investigators found hundreds of thousands of narcotic capsules in a hotel in Penjaringan, North Jakarta.

“The investigation continued to Mijen in Central Java, when the police found a production warehouse with 250 kilograms of material and sets of drug-producing machines,” Sambo said.

He added that the probe continued to a place in Cakung suspected to be a distribution point for the carisoprodol, classified as a type I drug in Indonesia.

“Per our investigation, we understand that the network has distributed its products to several regions in Central Java, East Java, South Kalimantan, Central Kalimantan, and East Kalimantan,” he noted.

Sambo said that the suspects sought to expand their reach to Jakarta, but they were arrested before distributing the drug in the capital city.

The suspects will be charged under the Criminal Code, the Narcotics Law, and the Health Law. If convicted, they face a maximum sentence of death or life imprisonment and up to an Rp2 billion (US$111,635) fine.