Syndicate and Laboratory for Synthetic Tobacco Raw Materials in Sentul Revealed

Laboratory for making synthetic tobacco raw materials revealed in Sentul Bogor. Five people were arrested.

KOMPAS/RHAMA PURNA JATI

The Metro Jaya Police revealed a clandestine laboratory producing raw materials for synthetic tobacco in Bogor, West Java, on Thursday (May 2, 2024). Five people were arrested, including the laboratory supervisor.

JAKARTA, KOMPAS — Directorate of Drugs Polda Metro Jaya uncovers hidden laboratories substance makers raw synthetic tobacco (sinte) in an elite housing complex in Sentul, Bogor, West Java. Five people were arrested including the laboratory controller and financier.

"This is the first case in Indonesia that reveals raw materials containing synthetic cannabinoids MDMB-4EN-Pinaca," said Deputy Chief of the Jakarta Metropolitan Police Brigadier General Police Suyudi Ario Seto in a press conference on Thursday (May 2, 2024).

In the disclosure, the police arrested five suspects who were part of the syndicate. They consisted of F who acted as the laboratory controller and financier. Meanwhile, SY and HM were in charge of concocting the drugs. As for GR and B, they acted as couriers and purchasers of raw materials.

Apart from arresting the five perpetrators, the police also confiscated a number of pieces of evidence such as raw materials for making pinaca gel, as well as a digital scale mixer and a number of other materials.

Suyudi said that the disclosure of this covert laboratory started with the arrest of B who intended to buy the raw materials for making MDMB-4EN-Pinaca. This material is an artificial chemical compound which is a derivative of synthetic cannabinoids which are generally known as synthetic tobacco.

KOMPAS/RHAMA PURNA JATI

The Metro Jaya Police revealed a clandestine laboratory producing raw materials for synthetic tobacco in Bogor, West Java, on Thursday (May 2, 2024). Five people were arrested, including the laboratory supervisor.

“Usually this material is produced abroad. "However, now, this synthetic tobacco is made in Indonesia," said Suyudi.

It is known that this illegal practice has been going on for six months.

As for the raw materials for MDMB-4EN-Pinaca, they are obtained from China and, according to the plan, the synthetic tobacco products produced will be sold throughout Indonesia.

If it can be circulated, Pinaca is usually used as synthetic tobacco, also known as gorilla tobacco.

The case was revealed after the authorities arrested B in the Serpong area of South Tangerang, Banten. It was discovered that B was carrying raw materials to be used in the production of synthetic tobacco.

From the arrest, the police then raided a laboratory producing synthetic tobacco in a house located on Jl Gn Pangrango number 185, Sentul, Babakan Madang District, Bogor.

Various pieces of evidence used to make pinaca were found in this place. There are pinaca raw materials in the form of jelly as well as powder.

At the laboratory, the police also arrested HM who was the mixer at the laboratory and GR who acted as the courier for the buyer.

Also read Warning, 4.8 Million People Exposed to Narcotics

Various pieces of evidence from 23 drug cases uncovered by the Narcotics Research Directorate (Ditresnarkoba) of Polda Metro Jaya at Polda Metro Jaya Headquarters, Jakarta, Tuesday (27/6/2023). Polda Metro Jaya destroyed evidence from 23 drug cases consisting of 34.51 kilograms of methamphetamine, 64.55 kilograms marijuana, 12.95 kilograms of synthetic tobacco, 1.02 kilograms of synthetic seeds , 23,594 ecstasy pills, 1,237,000 PCC pills, and 8,896,250 other dangerous drugs.

The police also arrested SY who played a role as a concocter. He was arrested in the Rawa Buntu area, Serpong, South Tangerang, Banten, which was used as a warehouse to store raw materials.

From these four people, the police then arrested F who was the controller of the production of synthetic tobacco. He monitored the production process through CCTV and communicated through mobile phones.

F learned the process of making synthetic tobacco from the internet. Meanwhile, the seized materials can produce around 35 kilograms of synthetic tobacco.

If this synthetic tobacco could be circulated, addicts would feel "flying" and act like gorillas.

"This will certainly destroy the future of the nation's next generation," he said.

For their actions, the five suspects were charged under Article 113 Paragraph 2 subsidiary Article 114 Paragraph 2 subsidiary Article 112 Paragraph 2 juncto Article 132 Paragraph II Law No. 35 of 2009 concerning Narcotics carries a maximum penalty of life imprisonment or 20 years in prison.

One of the suspects, GR, admitted to being lured into this syndicate because F offered a wage offer of IDR 80 million to IDR 100 million if they succeeded in distributing these narcotics.

"But in fact I was only given Rp. 5 million in operational money and was finally caught," said GR regretfully.

Interim Chairman of the Indonesian National Commission for Child Protection, Lia Latifah, revealed that various forms of drugs have infiltrated children. "Children are usually given drugs in many forms. The goal is to make them attractive," she said.

Also read: Digitizing Narcotics in the Pandemic Era

Children who attend school in SAJA, Penjaringan, North Jakarta (on Tuesday, 12/9) witnessed a drama of the battle between Captain BeNN and a candy seller containing drugs, Pak Narko. This is part of the National Narcotics Agency's socialization effort to educate children about the dangers of drugs.

Therefore, drug crimes must involve many parties. The police must also take firm action against all the perpetrators involved.

"In some cases, children cannot escape from the trap of prostitution because they are already addicted to drugs. In fact, some of them have to lose their lives," he said.