T

he Jakarta Police announced Thursday they had arrested eight suspects believed to be members of an international drug ring.

Those suspects were arrested in a series of raids in the past two weeks.

Jakarta Police spokesman Sr. Comr. Boy Rafli Amar said they seized 4.8 kilograms of crystal methamphetamine and more than 6,000 ecstasy pills.

"The confiscated drugs have a street value of Rp 8.5 billion *US$901,000*," he said.

Boy said the police targeted the syndicate last month after arresting Hengki, a syndicate member, in Grogol, West Jakarta, for possessing more than 6,000 ecstasy pills.

Following up information from Hengki, the polices then arrested Saimin, believed to be the syndicate's country leader, and raided a unit at the Laguna Apartment building in Penjaringan, North Jakarta, confiscating two boxes of crystal meth and arresting another suspect.

Five others were later arrested in raids in South and North Jakarta.

Boy said the police were currently looking for another suspect they believe was the distributor.

The police narcotics division chief, Sr. Comr. Anjan Pramuka Putra, said he believed the syndicate had close links with syndicates in China, Malaysia and Hong Kong.

He said the drugs were produced in China and distributed to Indonesia in chocolate boxes.

"The eight suspects will be charged under the new narcotics law, which carries a maximum sentence of life imprisonment or the death penalty," he said, adding that the Jakarta Police had cooperated with the National Police and Chinese police to arrest syndicate members in China.

The police have uncovered almost a dozen drug factories or safe houses in Greater Jakarta this year, mostly located in high-class apartments or affluent housing complexes.

In May, police raided a unit at the Puri Kemayoran Apartment block in Central Jakarta, arresting a suspect and seizing 133 grams of crystal meth ingredients.