HUGE ECSTASY BUST

Jakarta: Indonesian police are searching for the ringleaders of an
international drug gang after the largest ecstasy bust in the country's
history. Police raided a house in Jakarta on Sunday and recovered 150,000
pills and enough chemicals to produce another 8,000. Police estimated the
entire cache was worth $US520,000 ($995,000).

Police Brigadier General Edward Aritonang said it was the largest ecstasy
bust in Indonesia, and that police had been trying to break up the gang for
almost three years.

Two men were arrested but Aritonang said ringleaders remained at large. He
said detectives were still searching for the men, who are believed to have
international connections since materials for the drug came from Hong Kong
and Malaysia.

Ecstasy and other synthetic drugs like methamphetamine have become an
increasing problem across Asia.

Many Asian countries have reported an upsurge in the use of ecstasy,
especially among young people who frequent the gritty nightclub scene in
places like Jakarta and Bangkok.

As a result, Asian countries have forged bilateral agreements aimed at
breaking up international drug syndicates.