Indonesia’s BNN Raids Drug Laboratory In Ancol

JAKARTA, Jan 6 (Bernama-ANTARA) -- Indonesia’s National Narcotics Agency (BNN) raided an apartment in Ancol, North Jakarta, on Tuesday, discovering a laboratory producing drugs disguised as vape liquid and “happy water,” reported ANTARA news agency. 

"We identified a place used to mix and process liquid narcotics, which were then injected into vape liquid and happy water," said BNN Acting Deputy for Eradication, Budi Wibowo, on Tuesday.

According to Wibowo, the lab was part of an international drug trafficking network, and four suspects were arrested in the raid. 

The drug lab was discovered during Christmas and New Year security operations at Soekarno-Hatta International Airport in Tangerang, Banten, after two Malaysians were arrested for carrying substances suspected to contain MDMA, commonly known as Ecstasy, and Ethomidate, a sedative-hypnotic drug used in hospitals.

Further investigations led to the arrest of two other individuals, who were suspected of acting as field controllers and managing the network's operations.

In a follow-up operation, a joint team then raided an apartment in Jakarta, which was being used as a narcotics manufacturing facility.

At the facility, MDMA and Ethomidate smuggled from abroad were mixed with nicotine oil and flavourings disguised as vape liquid before being transported to another location.

The probe then led to a warehouse in the Pademangan area of North Jakarta, where officers seized dozens of ready-to-distribute vape liquid cartridges containing narcotics, thousands of empty cartridges, and various other ingredients and equipment.

Besides the vape liquids, raw materials like Ethomidate were packaged to resemble energy drink sachets. Wibowo said this method is used to deceive the authorities and facilitate cross-border smuggling by disguising narcotics as consumer products. 

The investigations revealed that the network employed a multi-layered covert operation.

The suspects were charged under the anti-narcotics laws’ Article 114 and Article 132, which carry either life imprisonment or the death penalty, or a minimum of 6 years and a maximum of 20 years imprisonment, and a maximum fine of Rp10 billion (US$579,000).

Followed by Article 112,  which carries either a life imprisonment or a minimum of 5 years jail sentence and a maximum fine of Rp8 billion (US$463,000) and also Article 113, which carries either the death penalty, life imprisonment, or imprisonment for a minimum of 5 years and a maximum of 20 years, as well as a maximum fine of Rp10 billion (US$579,000). 

“Happy water” is a colloquial term often used in Southeast Asia to refer to liquid narcotics or recreational drugs that are sold in drinkable form, sometimes disguised as beverages. The exact composition can vary, but it usually contains psychoactive drugs such as MDMA, ketamine and other synthetic or designer drugs.  

--BERNAMA-ANTARA