Governor Anies Baswedan’s promises to clean up the more infamous aspects of the capital’s nightlife scene are once again being put to the test after a raid by the Jakarta division of the National Narcotics Agency (BNNP DKI) at the Old City nightclub in Tambora, West Jakarta, led to dozens of guests being found positive for narcotics use.
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The raid, conducted early on Sunday morning, saw the narcotics agency conduct urine tests on 156 employees and visitors to the club, of which BNNP DKI says 52 tested positive. Authorities say they also found four pills believed to be ecstasy with the help of K-9 officers.
Governor Anies had previously promised and passed legislation giving his administration the power to unilaterally shut down nightlife establishments in which any evidence of drug use or prostitution had been found. However, in the case of Old City discotheque (as nightclubs are still anachronistically referred to by the local media here), the police have decided to only shut down the club temporarily for now pending the results of BNNP DKI’s full findings.
According to a report by Kompas, BNNP DKI’s initial investigation found that the 52 who had tested positive had all taken drugs outside Old City and “had only entered the disco for fun”. Those who tested positive were detained by the narcotics agency but no charges against them have been announced.
The acting head of the Jakarta Tourism and Culture Office, Asiantoro, said that his agency had called the club’s management to ask for an explanation about BNNP DKI’s findings. After the full results of the investigation are in, Asiantoro said the tourism agency would issue a letter of recommendation on whether or not Old City should be closed before the end of this week.
In fact, Old City was temporarily was already closed once earlier this year in relation to another drug-related case, but was ultimately given permission to reopen by the police.
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