Former Police Officer Arrested For Being A Marijuana Dealer

The Rejang Lebong Police Officer examined evidence of dried marijuana that allegedly belonged to a former member of the National Police in the area. ANTARA/Nur Muhammad

BENGKULU - The Rejang Lebong Resort Police of Bengkulu Police have arrested a former member of the National Police who is suspected of being a dealer and perpetrator of planting hundreds of marijuana stalks in polybags in the area.

Rejang Lebong Police Chief AKBP Puji Prayitno represented by Head of Criminal Investigation Unit, AKP Sampson Sosa Hutapea, said the suspect who was arrested at around 12.30 WIB had the initials AY (39), a resident of Batu Galing Street, RT01 RW04, Batu Galing Village, Central Curup District.

The disclosure of the marijuana distribution and cultivation case said Sampson, was carried out by a joint team of Criminal Investigation and Drug Units and the Resmob starting from reports of defamation carried out by the suspect on social media.

"The joint team of Criminal Investigation Unit, Narcotics Unit, and Mobile Research succeeded in uncovering cases of marijuana-type narcotics, the perpetrator is also a suspect in the violation of the ITE Law in the form of defamation. The alleged perpetrator is a former member", he said as quoted by Antara, Wednesday, October 13.

He explained that the disclosure of the case began with an investigation into the alleged violation of the ITE Law, which was allegedly carried out by the suspect, by visiting AY's residence, and during the raid to find evidence of the cellphone and laptop used by the suspect, the officers found dried marijuana and marijuana plants planted in polybags.

Head of the Rejang Lebong Police Narcotics Investigation Unit, Iptu Susilo, added that from suspect AY's house, officers found evidence in the form of a newly planted marijuana-type narcotic plant in 160 polybags as well as 160 small packets of ready-to-use marijuana.

So far, Susilo said, they are still investigating the ownership of cannabis plants and ready-to-use marijuana.

Ujang Bani, Head of RT01 RW04 Batu Galing Village, said that the suspect had not been a member of the National Police for several years, and had been divorced from his wife for several months.

"If he uses drugs, we don't know. Indeed, he often disturbs the residents here, such as using harsh words on social media, so that someone reports to me", he also said.