Last week, a phoney marijuana lab was shut down by Indonesian authorities in Sentul, Bogor Regency, West Java. The facility was located in an upscale neighbourhood.
Brigadier General Suyudi Ario Seto, the deputy chief of the Jakarta Metropolitan Police, disclosed that the primary ingredients were purchased using cryptocurrencies and originated from China. The amount of raw materials purchased with cryptocurrency is unknown.
These components are imported from China. At a news conference last Thursday, Suyudi stated, “They paid with crypto,” as cited by Kumparan. He continued by saying that although PINACA is often manufactured overseas and sent to Indonesia, it is currently being produced domestically.
The lab created MDMB-4en-PINACA, a synthetic compound that resembles marijuana but is categorised as a severe narcotic under Health Ministry Regulation No. 30 of 2023.
After six months of operation, the syndicate had five suspects: two producers, one warehouse keeper, a seller, and an investor. They are charged under several sections of Law No. 35 of 2009 concerning Narcotics, which carry a potential penalty of execution. These are significant charges.