A private university student, Angelia, not her real name, said she was aware sex toys were haram (forbidden under Islamic law) but it did not stop her from using it.

"I use sex toys to curb my urges to engage in extramarital sex," the 20-year-old told The Jakarta Post.

She said that many of her friends, students and professionals, used sex toys in the bedroom.

"Some of my friends even collect them," she said.

Finding the products - ranging from aphrodisiacs and herbs to prosthetic appendages, all at affordable prices - are easy, she added.

Many of them, she said, were advertised online and in the media.

"Sex toy sellers usually deliver their products. Traders keep their customers' identity strictly private. I usually just get my packages sent to the address of my boarding house," she said.

Sex aids advertised on the Internet - ranging from vibrators to inflatable dolls - cost anywhere between Rp 300,000 (US$35) and Rp 9 million.

The traders advertising online usually operate under Jakarta addresses, while in mass media, the products are usually "disguised" as ads for aphrodisiacs and Chinese herbs.

Taufiqur Rahman Yunus, a sex toy seller in Surabaya, claimed that many youngsters ordered sex toys from his shop, which sells up to four products a day.

"Business is booming in Surabaya. I intentionally disguised the business since many people would not approve it.

"Besides the Indonesian Ulema Council *MUI*, the police also conduct regular raids," said the man, who is currently in prison.

The police confiscated sex toys and various aphrodisiacs from Taufiqur's store in March.

MUI declared sex toys haram in March this year.

Taufiqur was charged for violating the 2009 Health Law in distributing health devices below the standard.

If proven guilty, he could face up to 15 years imprisonment and be fined up to Rp 1.5 billion.

Surabaya's crime and detective unit chief, Adj. Sr. Comr. Anom Wibowo, said that despite regular police raids, the sex toy industry continues to flourish in Indonesia's second-largest city.

He said it has been difficult to stop the sales as traders are very effective in disguising their businesses.

"Most of the sex toys in the market here come from China," Anom said.

In a bid to avoid being raided, another sex toy trader, Budi, said many of the sellers now prefer to sell their products online.

"There are plenty of online sites these days. There, besides the prices, we also put our contact details and bank accounts for transfer purpose," Budi said.

"*Selling online* is much safer and customer privacy is guaranteed," he said.

Gaya Nusantara founder Dede Utomo said that sex toys are not health products as has been charged by police against people they nab selling the products.

"Sex toys are banned by religion, but there is no law forbidding their sale in the country," he said.

He said that if sex toy were considered against the religious norms, it would be better for families to provide sex education to their children.

Banning the products, he said, would not be effective in stopping people from using them.

Instead, the ban would only increase curiosity among people, who may then give it a try, he added.

President director of the country's biggest online store Tokobagus.com, Arnold Sebastian, said his company strictly selects and regulates its content.

He said that any ad for sex toys were given an "adult" label.

"We're also working on an AIDS charity program campaign as a show of our awareness on HIV/AIDS prevention through education," Arnold said.

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