Domain Nightclub / Photo: Domain’s website
Partygoers definitely did not have a good time on Sunday night at Domain nightclub in Senayan City. In the middle of a normal night of drinking and dancing at the club, located in the basement level of the upper-class mall, officers from the National Narcotics Agency BNNP burst in to conduct a raid looking for drugs and drug users.
The BNNP team had an argument with Domain’s manager, who objected to the raid, saying they had not been informed it would happen. But despite his protests, the raid continued with officers urine testing patrons of the club.
“”At that time we took samples from more than 40. There were several implicated by urine testing. There were six people who consumed psychotropics,” said Safari Partidiharjo, head of BNNP Jakarta, at his office in Kuningan, South Jakarta on Monday.
Of the 40 samples, six indicated that they came from people using drugs. Two of those implicated said they worked in the entertainment industry.
“Of the six, two claimed to work as actors. Both claimed to star in television programs,” Safari said.
He added that the two individuals claiming to be actors tested positive for narcotics. “They consumed happy five. It is a type of illicit psychotropic drug.”
Until now, the two actors, who have been identified with the initials VM and K, are still in custody at the BNNP facilities in Kuningan. Safari said the real names of the actors would only be released after their investigation was completed.
“We are still guarding the privacy of the offenders. Maybe after the assessment process is complete we can reveal their real names,” he said.
While police drug raids at clubs in North Jakarta have become routine, especially before the closure of the infamous Stadium, that BNNP is doing raids and seemingly random drug testing at clubs generally considered clean and commercial like Domain has troubling implications for club goers in Jakarta.
Domain also happens to be the club where ex-adult film star turned DJ Sasha Grey will be performing on Nov. 27. Let’s hope the cops don’t show up that night.
