The Indonesian government often talks about the “drug crisis” in the country, but often when we see the results of drug raids by the National Narcotics Agency (BNN) in Jakarta, it seems like members the country’s own military and law enforcement agencies make up a significant percentage of the people caught.
Early Saturday morning, BNN and the Jakarta Police conducted raids on several nightlife spots throughout Jakarta, including Tematik, Pujasera, Milles, Eksotis, New Town, Marimba, and Venue. They rounded up 23 people in total, including a member of the Navy, two members of the Army and four police officers on suspicion of drug use. Four foreigners were also arrested.
But in the end, BNN’s head of public relations, Pribadi Slamet, said only two of the 23 tested positive for drug use: the member of the Navy and one civilian. Both tested positive for methamphetamines.
Pribadi told Kompas they would hand the Navy officer over to the military for treatment and punishment, while the civilian would be processed by BNN.
The four foreigners brought in by authorities did not test positive for drugs, but police said they did not have proper passports and were sent to immigration for processing.
BNN said the raids were held in part in recognition of the Indonesian military’s 70th anniversary.
