West Jakarta Police Chief Senior Commissioner M. Syahduddi stated that detailed information on his arrest could be obtained from the police's narcotics investigation unit.
Chief of the Narcotics Investigation Unit at the West Jakarta Police Adjunct Sen. Coms. Indrawienny Panjiyoga also confirmed Virgoun's arrest.
Panjiyoga also promised to provide detailed information on the Virgoun case on Friday, as police investigators are still probing the case.
"We are still digging deeper into the case," he remarked.
As reported earlier, Indonesia's world of entertainment remains vulnerable to drugs, as is apparent from the arrests of several entertainers over consumption and the trade of illicit drugs.
Prior to the Virgoun case, several other Indonesian entertainers who also got involved in drug-related cases comprised Ammar Zoni, Rio Reifan, Roro Fitria, Fachri Albar, Fariz RM, Jennifer Dunn, Steve Emmanuel, Zul Zivilia, Jefri Nichol, Tri Retno Prayudati alias Nunung Srimulat, Nanie Darham, and Lucinta Luna.
Female comedian Tri Retno Prayudati, commonly known as Nunung Srimulat, and her husband were apprehended on Friday, July 19, 2019.
Related news: Indonesian navy foils attempt to smuggle meth from Tawau to Nunukan
The police investigators seized 0.36 grams of crystal methamphetamine during their raid at Nunung Srimulat's house in the Tebet area of South Jakarta.
Another case that drew significant public attention was that of female movie star Nanie Darham. She was arrested in Jakarta on Feb 2, 2020, for allegedly trading cocaine, with police investigators accusing her of obtaining it from a drug lord outside Indonesia by ordering through social media platforms.
Domestic and transnational drug dealers consider Indonesia to be a potential market due to its vast population and widespread drug use.
The value of drug trade in the country is estimated to have reached nearly Rp66 trillion (around US$4.2 billion), with the number of drug trafficking cases continuing to rise.
A joint survey conducted by BNN and the Indonesian Institute of Sciences (LIPI) in 2019 pegged the number of drug users in Indonesia at over 3.4 million.
The survey conducted in 34 provinces indicated that about 180 out of every 10 thousand Indonesians in the age group of 15 to 64 years were drug users.
Those using crystal methamphetamine, narcotics, marijuana, and other addictive drugs can belong to any community and socioeconomic and cultural background.
Related news: Five cops arrested over alleged drug misuse
Translator: Redemptus ERS, Rahmad Nasution
Editor: Yuni Arisandy Sinaga
Copyright © ANTARA 2024
