Drug traffickers start to use Internet: Report<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): There is a strong indication that a new drug
\ntrafficking operation using the Internet has hit Jakarta and
\nother big cities in the country, it was reported on Tuesday.<\/p>\n
The new mechanism was revealed by Sri Daryanti, director of
\nthe non-governmental organization, Anti Drug Society, and the
\nNational Coordinating Board for Narcotics investigation chief Sr.
\nComr. Jotje Mende, during a joint press conference about the
\nUnited Nation's International Narcotics Control Board (INCB)'s
\n2000 report on the growing consumption of psychotropic
\nsubstances.<\/p>\n
They said on-line drug dealing occurs not only in developed
\ncountries, but also in Indonesia.<\/p>\n
\"Some drug users said they could also use the Internet to buy
\nthe drugs, besides ordering through telephone calls,\" Sri told
\nreporters at the United Nation Information Center, in Central
\nJakarta.<\/p>\n
Without mentioning the web sites providing the drugs, she said
\nthe drug dealers could deliver the drugs in hidden packages.<\/p>\n
\"The drugs could be hidden in flower pots for drug users who
\nare being treated in hospital,\" she said.<\/p>\n
Jotje also warned the public to be alert to the on-line
\ntrafficking even though the police have not yet made any arrests
\nfor Internet drug trafficking. \"We are still studying the on-line
\ndrug deals,\" said Jotje, who joined a seminar in Japan on drugs,
\nincluding online drug trafficking, last year.<\/p>\n
INCB, in the annual report, called all governments to take
\nspecific legal action to prevent the misuse of the Internet for
\ndrug trafficking.<\/p>\n
The board expressed concern over on-line drugstores and
\npharmacies for illegally providing prescription drugs, including
\ninternationally controlled substances to their clients around the
\nworld.<\/p>\n
Specifically, the Vienna-based institution warned about the
\ngrowing consumption of psychotropic substances and
\nmethamphetamine.<\/p>\n
Jotje admitted that there is also growing consumption of
\npsychotropic drugs and methamphetamine, known locally here as
\nEcstasy and shabu-shabu, respectively.<\/p>\n
He said the National Police handled 416 cases regarding
\npsychotropic substances in 1998, 839 similar cases in 1999; and
\n1,022 cases from January to October last year.<\/p>\n
The police seized 119,655 Ecstasy pills and 7.7 kilograms of
\nshabu-shabu in 1998, 29,510 pills and 18.6 kilograms of shabu-
\nshabu in 1999; and 77,854 pills and 29 kilograms of shabu-shabu
\nin the same period last year.<\/p>\n
Bogor<\/p>\n
Separately, the National Police's Community Supervision
\nDivision deputy chief Sr. Comr. Mudji Waluyo revealed that police
\nhandled 958 drugs (heroin and psychotropic) cases in 1998
\ninvolving 1,259 local suspects and 49 foreign suspects.<\/p>\n
Waluyo told a training session on drugs prevention in the
\nPuncak, near Bogor, West Java, that the number continued to
\nincrease in 1999 as police dealt with 1,883 cases involving 2,542
\nlocals and 48 foreigners.<\/p>\n
From January to October last year, police probed 2,453 drug
\ncases and arrested 2,229 locals and 55 foreigners.<\/p>\n
Of the foreigners arrested last year 19 were Africans, eight
\nwere from Asian countries, two Australians, three Americans and
\n13 from European countries.<\/p>\n
Waluyo said Aceh was the country's largest marijuana producer
\nas police seized more than 3,728 kilograms of dried marijuana in
\nthe province last year.<\/p>\n
He warned that the Bogor area with its fertile soil could be
\nused for marijuana growing.<\/p>\n
Some 50 participants, including students, joined a training
\nsession on drugs prevention, which was organized by the Anti
\nnarcotics Brigade (Brigantik).(jun\/21)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/drug-traffickers-start-to-use-internet-report-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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