'Evidence usually resold by police'<\/p>\n
The antidrug campaign seems to be getting more intensive support
\nfrom the police as drug abuse problems become more serious. There
\nare now an estimated four million drug addicts nationwide and
\nsome Rp 800 billion is spent daily just on drugs. The Jakarta
\nPost talked to several city residents about the issue and their
\nresponse to the police attempts.<\/p>\n
Syifa, 21, is a student at a private university in South
\nJakarta, majoring in tourism. She lives in Tebet, South Jakarta,
\nwith her family:<\/p>\n
I reckon that in my campus, there used to be a lot of drug
\nusers and traffickers who operated freely. They carried out their
\ntransactions openly.<\/p>\n
I wonder why there are only a few of them left now in my
\ncampus. They probably operate less openly these days because I
\nrarely see them around the campus.<\/p>\n
I used to take drugs too, but was not addicted to them -- no
\nway! But honestly, many of my relatives still take drugs. One
\neven died from an overdose.<\/p>\n
I guess the alarming drug problems are getting more acute
\nhere. We have to be careful when socializing with friends --
\nchoosing the wrong people might put you in trouble for good.<\/p>\n
I agree with the intensive crackdown by the police. I just
\nhope it's genuine. At least the police seem to be intent on
\nfighting drug dealers and abusers.<\/p>\n
But I don't agree that traffickers should be sentenced to
\ndeath. It's better to give them a maximum jail term. Matters of
\nlife and death are in God's hands, right?<\/p>\n
Ale (not his real name), 29, works for a private company in
\nWest Jakarta. He lives in Srengseng, West Jakarta, with his wife
\nand son:<\/p>\n
I'm not sure an intensive crackdown on drug problems will
\nsucceed because the confiscated evidence is usually resold by the
\npolice.<\/p>\n
I have a friend whose father was a high-ranking police officer
\nand he used to be a drug addict. I used to ask him (the friend)
\nfor marijuana for myself.<\/p>\n
He gave me a big box of marijuana and frankly told me it was
\nconfiscated crime evidence. Based on this, I think it's quite
\nnormal for me to doubt police commitment to combat the alarming
\ndrug problem, particularly in Jakarta.<\/p>\n
I used to be addicted to marijuana, too. From the time that I
\nwas in senior high school until university I used a lot of
\nmarijuana. I used it a lot when preparing for final exams. I
\nliked using it because I was able to pass several tests with B
\ngrades.<\/p>\n
But that was all about three years ago. Now I've quit drugs.
\nThank God I never used any other drugs but marijuana.<\/p>\n
Tri (not his real name), 56, is retired from the Navy and
\nlives at Patal Senayan, Central Jakarta, with his wife and five
\nchildren:<\/p>\n
I think drug problems have been so alarming that all elements
\nof society should work hand in hand with the police to combat
\nthem.<\/p>\n
Unfortunately, law enforcers disappoint many times the people
\nwho hope for justice. We can see how law enforcers are involved
\nin unscrupulous deals to release drug dealers from detention or
\nprison.<\/p>\n
I reckon that many drug transactions go on around here. I
\nwouldn't deny either that there must be some addicts here too.<\/p>\n
Every day I see plainclothes policemen hanging around here
\nmonitoring their targets. I know them from the way they behave.
\nBut all this is to no avail without serious measures and a good
\nattitude from them.<\/p>\n
I once drove them away from here because I was sick of seeing
\ncorrupt police who received bribes from such unlawful business.<\/p>\n
But after that, I tried to approach abusers and traffickers to
\nwarn them not to operate here. Up until now, the personal
\napproach has worked better than an oppressive one.<\/p>\n
I'm not saying that there are no more drug abusers here, but,
\nat least, it seems to have worked. Traffickers no longer operate
\nnear here. I also try to persuade abusers to kick such a bad
\nhabit.<\/p>\n
-- Leo Wahyudi S<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/evidence-usually-resold-by-police-1447893297", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }