Two Men in Bekasi Arrested for Growing Cannabis Hydroponically

TheIndonesia.co - The South Jakarta police arrested two men in Bekasi, West Java, for hydroponic cannabis cultivation upon reports from public, and suspects said they learned the technique from YouTube videos.

AA and MM were arrested in an apartment in Jalan Ahmad Yani in Bekasi, the police confirmed.

“We arrested them in an apartment in Boulevard area in Jalan Ahmad Yani, Bekasi, for cannabis cultivation,” deputy chief of South Jakarta police Pol. Grand Commissioner Adjutant Harun said on Friday, April 22, as reported by Antara.

The police initially received report from the public about circulation of cannabis within the apartment complex, and upon investigation, the two suspects were detained at the 23rd floor on Wednesday.

“We seized two packages of cannabis, but we continued to search,” Harun explained, adding that upon further search, the police found hydroponic cannabis cultivation managed by AA and MM at one of the units on the 19th floor.

In that unit, police found 240 cannabis plants which were grown hydroponically.

According to suspects, they had been doing the business for eight months and learnt the technique from YouTube videos.

During the eight months, AA and MM said they sold the cannabis in Bekasi and South Jakarta areas. It was also revealed that they managed to make Rp40 million (US$2,800) in profit.

The suspects can be charged under Law No. 35/2009 on Narcotics and face a maximum of 20 years imprisonment and Rp10 billion fine.