JAIL OVER NEW 'ICE' DRUG

Student Dealers Face Deportation

FOUR Indonesian students have become the state's first convicted
dealers of a deadly new designer drug known as ice.

The men, aged 19 to 23, face immediate deportation when they are
relased from jail terms imposed in the County Court yesterday.

They were arrested last year after members of the drug squad and
special operations group raided two Melbourne properties.

Police seized 300g of the drug known as ice - a form of speed with a
street value of about $1 million.

The head of the drug squad, Chief Insp. John McKoy, yesterday said ice
was the world's most dangerous drug, with a high that lasted between
two and 36 hours.

It can cause soaring body temperatures, hallucinations, insomnia,
violent outbursts and seizures, Chief Insp. McKoy said.

"Yesterday's sentencing is a warning to young people that the drug
will ruin their lives," he said.

Mahardyansyah Tanugra, 20; Michael Kunaefi, 19; Andres Hambali, 21;
and Feri Feri, 23; this week pleaded guilty to one count each of drug
trafficking.

Judge John Nixon yesterday said Tanugra and Kunaefi were the
architects of deals to sell an undercover policeman 475g of ice for
$274,000.

Only 275g was delivered.

Hambali and Feri played a lesser role, but were important cogs in the
drug trafficking wheel, he said.

The court heard the use of ice, known as sabu in Indonesia, was rife
among young Indonesian nationals, who used it as a study aid.

The four men arrived in Australia to advance their studies, but had
spent their allowances and were short of cash.

Judge Nixon said all four used the drug, but were deeply ashamed of
their actionas and had strong family support.

Kunaefi and Tanugra were each jailed for two years, with 10 months
suspended, and fined $16,650 apiece.

Hambali and Feri were each jailed for 15 months, with six months
suspended.

Sen-Det. Christopher Lim said the ice haul was the first in Victoria
and that the drug had largely been confined to the Indonesian community.

"They were very naive," he said outside court.