31 Wedi Awu Beach Tourists undergo Drug Rehabilitation

MALANG - The Malang Police (Polres) Police stated that as many as 31 tourists in the Wedi Awu Beach area, Malang Regency, East Java, underwent rehabilitation after urine tests showed positive for drug use.

Malang Police Chief AKBP Muhammad Taat Resdi said the 31 tourists consisted of 21 people who tested positive for marijuana, six people tested positive for methamphetamine, and four people tested positive for marijuana and methamphetamine.

"We are coordinating with the East Java Provincial BNN for the assessment process and the results are that 31 people were decided to undergo rehabilitation in several places with a duration of one to three months," said Taat as reported by ANTARA, Friday, May 8.

He explained that the tourists who tested positive for drugs were aged between 18 and 28 years old.

The dozens of people were part of a group of tourists from Surabaya who were allegedly victims of vandalism and beatings by a group of people while traveling to Wedi Awu Beach.

Based on the results of the follow-up investigation, the number of tourist groups was known to reach 72 people, an increase from the initial data of 69 people.

Taat said the implementation of urine tests for tourists was part of the investigation procedure at the scene.

According to him, the police found a number of cardboard boxes and bottles of liquor, both empty and still containing, at the tourist location.

"Because the tourist activity was quite lively, we took the initiative to conduct urine tests and found that 31 people were confirmed to have taken drugs," he said.

The incident of alleged vandalism and assault on a group of tourists occurred on Tuesday (5/5) early morning.

The incident was allegedly triggered by a number of tourists who sang a song with lyrics that offended certain groups of people.

The Malang Police previously had named four suspects with initials A, Z, Y, and M in the alleged case of vandalism and beating of tourists at Wedi Awu Beach.