A series of executions of drug convicts and a regular crackdown on drug trafficking has apparently done little to curb the unlawful business as new players appear to be trying their luck by producing drugs themselves.

In July, the government executed four drug convicts, including three Nigerians, amid a public outcry demanding the government eliminate the death penalty. The government has insisted on maintaining capital punishment in a bid to create a deterrent.

Critics have been skeptical about the effectiveness of such a punishment in curbing drug trafficking as people always find new ways to conduct this illegal business.

One of them, according to authorities, was a 35-year-old German citizen, identified only as BB, who was arrested by the National Narcotics Agency (BNN) in Bali on Monday for allegedly running a home industry producing crystal methamphetamine, locally known as sabu-sabu.

He was arrested with three Indonesian citizens at a house in the Puri Wahana Residence in Kerobokan, Badung, at about 6 p.m. on Aug. 22 by the BNN’s investigative team, which reportedly confiscated 10 grams of crystal meth that he had allegedly produced.

The team also claimed to have seized a gallon of mineral water and plastic bottles, as well as alleged drug ingredients such as acetone, sodium hydroxide (NaOH), salt, alcohol, water, fertilizers and ammonium nitrate.

The agency’s drug eradication section head Adj. Sr. Comr. I Ketut Arta claimed the home drug lab was found after the team conducted an undercover operation on Monday afternoon. Before finding the lab, they had arrested two Indonesians.

One 21-year-old Indonesian identified only as STV was arrested at a house in the Nakula Stay Residence in Kuta. The team also claimed to have found two packs of crystal meth weighing 2.05 grams and a mobile phone. The BNN said STV told the team that he got the drugs from another Indonesian, a 35-year-old identified only as VM.

“After arresting STV and VM, we decided to conduct further investigations to find out where they got the drugs and we found that the drugs were produced in a house in the Kerobokan area,” Arta said.

That was when the police went to the house in the Puri Wahana Residence where the German citizen was staying. At the house, the team also arrested a 24-year-old Indonesian who apparently worked for BB.

Beside allegedly seizing drug precursors, the team also took a computer members said contained a document about producing crystal meth, as well as bongs and many tools that are used in the production.

Arta said BB had admitted he learned to make crystal meth from the internet. “He said he saw it on YouTube,” Arta said.

The BNN claimed BB, who had been residing in Bali for the last eight years and used to be work in property, had set up the drug lab two or three months ago, but only started operating it a month ago. “They just operated for one month, but their actions were uncovered by the BNN,” Arta said.

Officials claim that during its operation the drug lab produced sabu-sabu four times. “They produced around 1.5 to 2 grams of crystal meth in each process,” Arta said.

BB will be charged under Article 113 of Law No. 35/2009 on narcotics, which carries a maximum penalty of 15 years imprisonment.

Udayana University criminologist Gede Made Swardhana said the involvement of foreigners in drug production in Bali proved that huge profits could be made from the business.

“If it was not profitable, they would not run that business as the risk is high,” Swardhana said.

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