Need Research to Prove Coca Trees in Bogor Botanical Can Produce Cocaine

TheIndonesia.id - Head of the Center for Biopharmacatropic Studies, Institute for Research and Community Service (LPPM) IPB University, Irmanida Batubara, stated that research was needed to prove the similarity of coca tree compounds in the Bogor Botanical Gardens (KRB) with coca trees that can produce cocaine or Erythroxylum novogranatense.

"I can't answer right or wrong because I don't have a sample, I've never analyzed it. I have to analyze it first, I'm a researcher," said Batubara in Bogor City, Tuesday, August 9, 2022.

Batubara conveyed in theory, that the similarity of compounds in plants could exist in other plants of the same type, one family, or one genus. To prove its similarity, it is necessary to analyze the plant.

Regarding the Erythroxylum novogranatense tree from South America, a type of Erythroxylum coca or coca tree, which was stated by the Bogor City Police and the National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN) in the Bogor Botanical Gardens but is now dead, it may have the same compound but it may or may not the same coca tree that produces cocaine. Likewise, with other coca-like plants, Erythrocylum Cuneatum from local Indonesia which is stated to still exist in the Bogor Botanical Gardens, there may or may not be similarities.

"It is very possible, it could be the same type or even the body's metabolic pathway originate to it, so it is possible to find the same compound," she said.

Batubara explained that basically, plants are the same as the human body which has primary compounds such as proteins and carbohydrates. In addition, it can also have secondary compounds such as odor on the human body when sick to fight disease, because there are compounds that need to be excreted at that time and are not under normal conditions.

Secondary compounds in plants and humans can also be produced in various ways. "It's like having a mango tree that doesn't bear fruit, some are tied up and so on to make it bear fruit," he said.

Batubara also suggested that regardless of the abuse, coca-like plants still need to be protected for conservation purposes.

Coca Seed Exports

Previously, Sub-Directorate 3 of the Directorate of Drug Investigation at the Metro Jaya Police together with the Customs and Excise Agency succeeded in thwarting the shipment of coca seeds, the basic ingredient of cocaine, from Indonesia to abroad. Head of Sub-Directorate 3 of the Directorate of Drug Investigation of the Greater Jakarta Metropolitan Police, Adjunct Senior Commissioner of Police Danang Setiyo Pambudi, said they had arrested one suspect with the initials SDS (51).

To the police, SDS (51) admitted to planting coca trees since 2003. SDS admitted that initially, he got coca seeds from the Bogor Botanical Gardens and Research Institute for Spices and Medicinal Plants of Bandung.

Head of Public Relations Division of Polda Metro Jaya, Police Commissioner Endra Zulpan, in his statement, said that the evidence was obtained from planting coca plants which have been growing in his house since 2003.

Then, the Bogor City Police rectified the news of alleged cocaine seeds from coca seeds at the Bogor Botanical Garden based on the description of the suspect SDS (51), that there is only a similar tree, namely Erythroxylum novogranatense from South America, which has now been replaced.

Head of Drugs at the Bogor City Police, Commissioner Agus Susanto, in Bogor City, Monday, revealed that the results of his investigation found that there were two kinds of coca-like trees. Bogor Botanical Gardens has a plant called Erythroxylum Novogranatense (South America) and Erythrocylum Cuneatum (local Indonesia).