Sawah Besar: Jakarta's drug trafficking hotspot?

Byline: The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

During colonial times, Sawah Besar, then known as Weltevreden, was a sprawling residential area for the Dutch elite. Today, the subdistrict in Central Jakarta could be described as a drug-trafficking hotspot.

The notorious region was back in the news earlier this month when the police arrested suspects in two drug-related crimes, following a report that a resident had died from a drug overdose.

This has reignited longtime concerns over the burgeoning nightlife in and around the area, which is often cited as a major reason for the rampant drug circulation. One can easily find nightclubs, karaoke bars, massage parlors, cafes …