An Indonesian police force might want to rethink its drug disposal policy after accidentally helping residents of one district get high.
Destroying tonnes of marijuana in a big bonfire proved to be as reckless as it sounds as those witnessing the event started inhaling the fumes.
Journalists and locals began feeling dizzy as police officers, who were wearing masks, destroyed tonnes of marijuana stacked up in a field.
The fumes drifted into homes located near to the police station in West Jakarta, Indonesian news website kompas.com reports.
“I got a headache because I wasn’t wearing a mask,” said one journalist.
Another reporter who started feeling dizzy said he had to sit down and have a cup of tea.
The marijuana was seized in earlier raids, with thousands of ecstasy pills and crystal meth uncovered by airport customs officials also being destroyed.
A spokesperson for Indonesia’s National Narcotics Agency insisted that inhaling the fumes would not lead to any long-term health problems.
A total of 13 suspects were detained as a result of anti-narcotics operation since January.
Indonesia has tough anti-drugs laws and a death penalty can be handed to those found guilty of trafficking.
