DENPASAR ~ Drug distribution in Bali has decreased sharply in recent years, due to low demand, Bali Police spokesman Antonious Reniban said.

Police seized 12,623 grams of marijuana in 2005, 11,605 grams in 2006 and 6,929 grams in 200, he said.

Officers seized 8,469 grams of heroin in 2005, 748.5 grams in 2006 and 55.7 grams in 2007.

In addition, they seized 248.8 grams methamphetamine in 2005, 354.8 grams in 2006 and 64.5 grams in 2007.

A total of 6,304 ecstasy pills were seized in 2005, 1,684 in 2006 and 1,448 in 2007.

Reniban said demand fell off after several big dealers were transferred from Denpasar Prison to Nusakambangan Prison off the coast of southwest Java.

“Ever since we transferred Arman (Arman Maulidie) and other big dealers to outside Bali, drug distribution suddenly dropped,” he said, without elaborating further.

Meanwhile, from January to August 2007, police arrested more than 500 drug addicts, including 14 foreign nationals, for a total of 417 cases, said Reniban.