Sweep nets illegals, beggars and prostitutes<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): In a bid to improve law and order in the city,
\nthe Central Jakarta mayoralty conducted a sweep of illegal
\nimmigrants, street hawkers, beggars and prostitutes early
\nWednesday morning.<\/p>\n
Twenty-three nationals of Mali, Nigeria, Cameroon and Guinea
\nand one Mexican residing in the Tanah Abang area were detained by
\nimmigration officials, who participated in the operation to
\nsearch for foreigners overstaying their visas.<\/p>\n
More than 200 street hawkers and 35 prostitutes were also
\nnetted in the National Monument (Monas) area. They will be sent
\nto a rehabilitation center in Kedoya, West Jakarta.<\/p>\n
Ten of the foreigners were released after presenting their
\npassports, with the rest to be sent to the immigration quarantine
\nfacility in Cengkareng, West Jakarta, for further questioning.<\/p>\n
Overstay<\/p>\n
According to the head of the Central Jakarta immigration
\noffice, M. Jailani, the operation was conducted to find
\noverstaying foreigners, many of whom stay in cheap hotels in
\nTanah Abang.<\/p>\n
The operation was spurred by public complaints about
\nforeigners, many of whom are allegedly involved in drug
\ntrafficking, money laundering and illegal trading.<\/p>\n
Since Dec. 3, the immigration office has monitored the
\nactivities of African nationals living in Tanah Abang and
\nconducted several operations. The office caught 30 people in
\nJanuary.<\/p>\n
Jailani said his office would launch periodic crackdowns on
\nillegal immigrants as a deterrent.<\/p>\n
During Wednesday's crackdown, mayoralty officials caught
\nhundreds of beggars and street hawkers at Istiqlal Grand Mosque
\nand its compound who lacked identification cards.<\/p>\n
According to a mosque official, hundreds of homeless people
\noften sleep on the ground floor. \"They are not a threat, but
\ntheir presence is an eyesore,\" he said.
\n(06)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/sweep-nets-illegals-beggars-and-prostitutes-1447893297",
"image": ""
},
"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}