The police investigators continue to examine the vaping liquid that he might have consumed at a forensic laboratory, spokesman of the Jakarta Metropolitan Police Sen. Coms. Argo Yuwono stated.
Hence, it is yet to be established whether the vaping liquid contained psychotropic substances, Yuwono noted, adding that the police investigators had questioned Vicky.
Vicky's arrest has again exposed the sheer vulnerability of Indonesia's world of entertainment to drug cases. Tri Retno Prayudati and Jefri Nichol are among the other entertainers embroiled in drug cases.
Commonly known as Nunung Srimulat, Tri Retno Prayudati is a famous female comedian. She was arrested along with her husband on July 19, 2019, while Jefri Nichol is an actor, who was apprehended on July 22, 2019.
Police investigators confiscated 0.36 grams of crystal methamphetamine from Nunung Srimulat's house in the Tebet area of South Jakarta on July 19, while 6.01 grams of marijuana were seized from Nichol's room in the Kemang area of South Jakarta on July 22.
Indonesia remains under grave threat from drug dealers, as several individuals from its working-age population have been engulfed in a vicious circle.
The National Narcotics Agency's (BNN's) report of some 50 Indonesians dying daily of drug use has failed to deter drug users in the country from consuming these banned substances.
Users of crystal methamphetamine, narcotics, marijuana, and other addictive drugs transcend communities and socio-economic and cultural backgrounds.
Hence, Indonesia is perceived by both domestic and transnational drug dealers as a potential market due to its huge population and millions of drug users. The value of drug trade in the country is estimated to have reached nearly Rp66 trillion.
In response to the illicit drugs that drug kingpins have smuggled into and traded in the country over the past few decades, the Indonesian government continues to apply harsh punitive action against them.
Indonesian President Joko Widodo had also issued shoot-at-sight orders against drug kingpins.
However, this has failed to deter drug traffickers. They continue to treat Indonesia as one of their main markets even as Indonesian law enforcers continue unabated their fight against them.
Related news: Butet Kartaredjasa deplores Indonesia's artists using addictive drugs Related news: Police nab five others in Nunung's drug case
EDITED BY INE
Translator: Fianda SR, Rahmad Nasution
Editor: Suharto
Copyright © ANTARA 2019
