10 firework-maker families sought

10 firework-maker families sought

JAKARTA (JP): Tangerang police are searching for the
whereabouts of 10 families who were missing when police raided
their residences at Kampung Malang Nengah, Legok.

The residential raid was carried out as part of a police
investigation into the growing number of fireworks found in
local markets, City Police spokesman Lt. Col. Bambang Haryoko
told reporters here yesterday.

"During the neighborhood raid at 5 p.m. Saturday, the police
only found two suspects at the scene," Bambang reported.

During the raid, the police seized 50 kilograms of various
types of fireworks along with raw materials weighing 500
kilograms and worth millions of rupiah on the pyro-hungry streets
of Jakarta.

Bambang said the other family members might have been informed
about the raid beforehand.

"So far, we have no valuable information as to their places of
hiding," the spokesman added.

Two suspects already in the custody of Tangerang police have
been identified as Arsani and the second, a woman, named
Maimunah.

The unlicensed sale and use of fireworks are prohibited by the
government though many, particularly youngsters, cannot be
stopped from purchasing and igniting fireworks during certain
celebrations, such as New Year's Eve, less than a week away.

"The raid against the illegal makers of fireworks, a home
industry for many local Tangerang residents, was carried out in
line with the police's intention to make safe the New Year Eve's
celebration in the greater Jakarta area," Bambang said. (bsr)