Jakarta (ANTARA) - The Jakarta Metropolitan Police's anti-drug squad has nabbed five suspects in Trenggalek District, East Java Province, for their alleged involvement in the drug case of popular female comedian Tri Retno Prayudati, known as Nunung Srimulat. The suspects were only identified by their initials, NI (36), FAP (22), DAW (32), DAV (19), and MKP (29), Head of the Jakarta Metropolitan Police's Narcotics Unit Adjunct Senior Commissioner Jean Calvijn Simanjuntak told journalists here Tuesday.

The police investigators could arrest those suspected of being drug couriers for Nunung following the confessions of Nunung and her husband, he said. The suspects had escaped from Cibinong in West Java to Semarang, Central Java. They then continued their escape to Trenggalek, East Java before they were arrested.

During the raid, the policemen seized 2.86 grams of crystal methamphetamine from three suspects, as well as 12 grams of dried marijuana and 418 grams of crystal meth from two other suspects, he said.

Nunung Srimulat was introduced by a relative a year ago to Hadi Moheriyanto, alias TB, who allegedly supplied her with crystal meth, Simanjuntak revealed earlier.

"Hadi and Nunung have known each other for a year, and Hadi was introduced to her by one of Nunung's relatives," he said.

The police have named Nunung and her husband, July Jan Sambiran, as well as Moheriyanto, as suspects in connection with the case, and charged them with violating Indonesia's Law Number 35/2009 on Narcotics.

They will be sentenced to five years in jail if they are found guilty.

The anti-narcotics squad of the police had received tip-offs from the public about Moheriyanto’s drug ring, Simanjuntak said.

Mohenriyanto was arrested and it led the police investigators to search a house, which then belonged to Nunung. The police are still on the lookout for another suspect identified as E, he said.

Indonesia's world of entertainment remains vulnerable to drug cases as partly observed from the arrests of Nunung and her husband on July 19, 2019.

The police investigators confiscated 0.36 grams of crystal methamphetamine during a raid on Nunung’s house in the Tebet area of South Jakarta on July 19.

These two arrests have only added to the list of Indonesia's artists who have been nabbed in drug cases.

Indonesia remains under serious threat from drug dealers, as several individuals from its working-age population have been trapped in a vicious circle.

The National Narcotics Agency's (BNN's) report that said some 50 Indonesians die of drug use every day has not deterred drug users in the country from consuming these banned substances.
Related news: Kin introduced comedian Nunung to drug courier: police
Related news: Police did not target comedian Nunung Srimulat


Translator: Shofi Ayudiana, Rahmad Nasutio
Editor: Suharto
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