We have examined two bottles of vaping liquid and two vape devices. The vape of AC contains psychotropic substancesJakarta (ANTARA) - The vaping liquid containing the 'gorilla tobacco' (synthetic marijuana) did not belong to popular soap opera star Vicky Nitinegoro, but to his friend identified as AC, the Jakarta Metropolitan Police investigators confirmed Thursday. The police investigators also revealed that Vicky's urine sample did not contain psychotropic substances and that he had tested negative for the use of the drug, spokesman of the Jakarta Metropolitan Police Sen. Coms. Argo Yuwono said.
"We have examined two bottles of vaping liquid and two vape devices. The vape of AC contains psychotropic substances," he told journalists here.
Policemen nabbed Nitinegoro and his two friends only identified by their initials AM and AC, Yuwono said. Thereafter, the narcotics unit's investigators examined the vaping liquid at the police's forensic laboratory.
Initially, the police investigators presumed that the vaping liquid contained crystal methamphetamine. However, the laboratory tests revealed that it contained 'gorilla tobacco', he said.
"The vaping liquid inside VN's vape device did not contain psychotropic substances," Yuwono said, adding that AC confessed that he had purchased the vaping liquid online.
The police investigators would follow up on AC's confession to find the provider and maker of the Gorilla tobacco-contained vaping liquid, he said.
The police investigators also tested Vicky, AM, and AC for drugs. They concluded that the urine samples of Vicky and AM did not contain psychotropic substances while AC tested positive.
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 the 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 punitive measures 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. (INE)
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EDITED BY INE
Translator: Fianda SR, Rahmad Nasution
Editor: Suharto
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