JAKARTA: Central Java Police have confiscated 67.4kg of chemicals during a crackdown on illegal firework production in several locations in the province.
The raids were conducted following three separate explosions at houses producing firecrackers in the regencies of Grobogan, Kendal and Wonosobo, which resulted in five people being injured.
Police raided addresses believed to be firecracker production centres in the regencies of Batang, Magelang, Sragen, Temanggung and Cilacap as well as Pekalongan city over three days.
“We’re continuing our operation against firecracker [production].
As of Monday, we raided blending and firecracker production locations in eight regions,” Central Java Police chief spokesman Sr Comr Artanto said in Semarang on Monday (Feb 23).
The confiscated substances include sulfur, carbon, aluminum and kalium chlorate powders. These substances are easily obtained as they have legitimate agriculture and industrial uses.
Artanto said the makers blended the substances based on guidance they received from social media on how to make firecrackers.
However, these substances can also be easily blended in certain proportions to make more potent explosives.
Central Java Police’ Gegana bomb disposal squad destroyed 28.6kg of chemical substances on Thursday, confiscated by Batang Police. The step was an early preventive measure to ensure public safety during the Ramadan fasting month.
“We will take stern measures against those who blend and make firecrackers,” Artanto said.
“In many cases, the victims of firecrackers’ explosions are young people,” he added, “teenagers are currently being treated for blast injuries.”
He said the youths would get legal assistance because they are still children according to Children Protection Law.
There is a tradition in the country of making firecrackers during Ramadan and to welcome Idul Fitri, despite a ban on their production.
Artanto said the police were still studying and tracing the distribution channel of the chemical components, including the distribution patterns through social media and online platforms.
“We ask the public to immediately report to the nearest police station if they know of any production or storage of substances misused for the manufacture of explosives in their neighbourhoods,” said Artanto. - The Jakarta Post/ANN
