Police Arrest Synthetic Tobacco Manufacturers In Tangsel, Perpetrators Learn Through Online Sites

Synthetic tobacco evidence/ Photo: IST

TANGSEL - A special team from the South Tangerang City Police Narcotics Investigation Unit uncovered a network of synthetic tobacco producers in the areas of South Tangerang (Banten), Gunung Sindur (West Java) and Makassar (South Sulawesi).

The raid was led by Katimsus Iptu Eko Nopen SH. This MH was carried out after the police arrested two dealers with the initials GR and MN in the Jalan Raya Ciater area, Serpong, Banten, August 16.

According to the South Tangerang Police Chief, AKBP Iman Imanuddin, told reporters, Friday, September 10, this synthetic tobacco producer deceived law enforcement by using houses and apartments as factories.

First, said the police chief, this syndicate uses an apartment unit in Serpong, South Tangerang, Banten, as its base of operations.

Another factory operates in a rented house in Gunung Sindur, West Java. And, the third factory operates in Makassar City, South Sulawesi.

From the development of the two traffickers with the initials GR and MN, said the Police Chief, the police secured the destination of the other perpetrators.

Thus, the police arrested the nine perpetrators. The nine perpetrators were GR, MN, AS, AN, FL, AG, VC, PR, and RH. They were named as suspects.

From the syndicate's hands, the police confiscated 1.48 kilograms of synthetic tobacco and its production equipment, which were subsequently used as evidence. The 1.4 kilogram synthetic tobacco is worth IDR 2.7 billion.

Head of the South Tangerang Police Narcotics Unit, AKP Amantha Wijaya, said the nine perpetrators were an inter-provincial narcotics network that sold its tobacco online to many addicts in the country.

During the transaction, said Kasatnarkoba, the perpetrator deceived law enforcement by storing his synthetic tobacco in coffee packaging when sending the package to the buyer.

"They sell it to Lampung, West Java, DKI Jakarta, Central Java, Surabaya, Makassar, to Papua," said Amantha.

Within a month, this syndicate sells this synthetic tobacco up to 10 kilograms.

"This syndicate learns to make synthetic tobacco on a self-taught by looking at the website (online site). There are also those who learn from their fellow networks," said Amantha.

The police arrested the perpetrators using Article 112, subsidiary Markets 114, 129, and 132 of Law Number 35 of 2009 concerning Narcotics.