BNN Uncovers Synthetic Tobacco Factory in Tangerang, Raw Materials Purchased Online

TANGERANG - The National Narcotics Agency (BNN) dismantled the practice of laboratories and factories of dark narcotics of the synthetic tobacco type in a residential area in Tangerang, Banten, Friday, January 9. This operation revealed a self-production mode on a home scale with raw materials obtained online.

Intensive investigation for 2 months yielded results with the arrest of three perpetrators. They are ZD who acts as a chef or chef, FH as a quality tester for production results, and FIR who is in charge of distributing the illegal goods.

The Deputy Director of Psychotropic and Precursors of the BNN Eradication Division, Aldrin Hutabarat, stated that the house had been used as a production site for MDMB-4en-Pinaca for the past 2 months. This disclosure began with the suspicion of residents of the activities in the residence.

"The perpetrator admitted that he got the main precursor material, additional chemicals, to laboratory equipment through an online shopping platform," said Aldrin in Jakarta, Saturday, January 10.

During the search, officers seized a number of evidence in the form of 153 grams of MDMB-4en-Pinaca type narcotics, 808.9 grams of similar substance solids, and other chemical residues. A set of laboratory equipment used to process raw materials into ready-to-use narcotics was also transported as evidence.

The suspects are now charged with Article 610 paragraph (1) letter a of Law Number 1 of 2023 concerning the Criminal Code. They are threatened with a maximum prison sentence of 15 years and a fine of up to Rp. 500 million.

BNN claimed that this disclosure had saved around 8,000 lives from potential drug abuse.

Currently, investigators are still conducting an in-depth investigation to trace the network of chemical suppliers that support the operation of the home laboratory. This case underscores the new challenges of the police in curbing the circulation of narcotics that take advantage of easy access to digital technology.