Akasaka nightclub in central Denpasar has been closed down until further notice, following a police raid on the club on Monday afternoon that found nearly Rp 10 billion worth of ecstasy pills on the premises.
In the massive bust, 19,000 ecstasy pills were confiscated—an estimated value of Rp 9.5 billion, or about $673,000.
Police say the drugs found came from a syndicate supplying drugs to Bali.
“These items were sent from Jakarta to Surabaya and Bali by private car,” said deputy director of the Bali Police Narcotics Unit, Superintendent Soedjarwoko.
Four suspects have reportedly been arrested, identified by local media as WI, IS, NW, and DD. WI is understood to have been the club’s manager.
Police believe the drugs would have been sold to customers at the club, as well as other buyers around the island.
“It seems the drugs were for distribution around (Akasaka), as well as other areas in Bali,” Soedjarwoko said, as quoted by Detik.
A police line has apparently been set up, blocking entrance to the club, while in a notice posted to the entrance of Akasaka, the club’s management apologized for the sudden closure.
The notice, in Indonesian, reads: “Let it be announced that Akasaka Karaoke, Music Club & A Club, starting today, June 5, 2017, is not operating until further determined. Apologies for the current condition.”
This isn’t the first time Akasaka has gotten into hot water over drugs.
“With this case, it’s now three times that there have been drug cases in Akasaka. First it was 5,000 ecstasy pills, then 10,000 ecstasy pills found in 2016.”
Despite the club’s repeat offender status, police say they do not have the authority to shut down the institution for good and will need the provincial government to act for more permanent action.
Akasaka, located in Simpang Enam on Jl. Teuku Umar, has been around since 1989. The four-story club has karaoke, a discotheque dubbed the A-Club, and restaurant facilities.
Police in Bali have been on a real mission to clean up the island’s so-called ‘ailments.’ An operation running until June 12, 2017, called Pekat Agung Operation 2017, is targeting various nightlife-related crimes like prostitution, illegal alcohol, and drugs. The operation’s name even translates to ‘sickness of society.’
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