Jakarta (ANTARA) - Jakarta police have identified the person who supplied cannabinoids to stand-up comic Fico Fachriza, who was apprehended from his home for drug use on January 13, 2022, a spokesperson disclosed here Monday.



Efforts have been stepped up to hunt down the suspect, Jakarta Metropolitan Police spokesperson, Senior Commissioner Endra Zulpan, said.



"The suspected supplier has been identified on a social media platform, and the police have put the suspect on the wanted list," he informed.



While arresting the top stand-up comic at his home in Pancoran Mas sub-district, Depok city, West Java province, police officials had seized 1.45 grams of synthetic cannabinoids, he said.



Following his arrest, Fachriza had undergone a urine test whose result had confirmed that he had consumed the drugs, he added.



Fachriza told investigators that he has been using synthetic cannabinoids since 2016 and purchased the drugs from someone on a social media platform, Zulpan said.



Fachriza paid Rp300 thousand to the supplier for the drugs he was caught consuming, he informed.



Fachriza's arrest has added to the list of Indonesian artistes arrested in drug cases.



Indonesia remains under serious threat from drug dealers, with a significant section of its working-age population trapped in a vicious circle of drug abuse.



According to the National Narcotics Agency (BNN), at least 50 Indonesians die of drug use every day. The statistic has failed to deter drug users in the country from consuming the banned substances.



Users of crystal methamphetamine, narcotics, marijuana, and other types of addictive drugs come from any community and distinct socio-economic and cultural backgrounds.



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 drug trade in the country is estimated to have reached nearly least Rp66 trillion.



The Indonesian government has continued to apply harsh punitive action against kingpins found smuggling and trading drugs over the past few decades.



Indonesian President Joko Widodo had also issued shoot-at-sight orders against drug kingpins.



However, this has failed to discourage drug traffickers, and they have continued to treat Indonesia as one of their main markets even as Indonesian law enforcers have kept the fight going against them.

Related news: No rehab request received for Fico Fachriza: Jakarta police

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Translator: Fianda SR, Rahmad Nasution
Editor: Fardah Assegaf
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