American citizen shot in drug raid
JAKARTA (JP): Police shot a Nigerian-born American citizen, identified as Dennis Michael, in his right leg after he allegedly resisted arrest and tried to flee during a drug raid, an officer said Saturday.
Officers were forced to shoot the 27-year-old man, who is suspected of being involved in heroin trafficking, on Jl. Blitar, Menteng, Central Jakarta, on Friday about 9.30 p.m., Deputy chief of Jakarta Detectives Lt. Col. Bakat Purwanto said.
Fifty grams of first-grade heroin, with an estimated street value of Rp 20 million, was confiscated from the suspect after it was located in his shoes, Bakat said.
"Dennis is also believed to be involved in an international heroin distribution network. We are sure that he was stationed here by the alleged network as one of their heroin dealers."
He explained that another five Nigerians, who were allegedly Dennis' accomplices, were arrested Saturday.
Residents reported on April 16 that an area around Jl. Blitar was occasionally used as a place for drug dealing by some foreigners.
Based on the reports, police commenced tight surveillance on the area and tailed Dennis, Bakat said.
When police raided the area, Dennis tried to escape and ran toward the Rumanian Embassy. Before he had a chance to climb the embassy's gate, the police fired a warning shot at him. When he kept running, police shot him in the leg, Bakat said.
"Some of the embassy's officials came out to investigate the incident. But, after we explained (the shooting) to the Rumanian officials, they understood and congratulated us."
During interrogation, police elicited the address of Dennis' alleged heroin base at Hanover Hotel in Tanah Abang, Central Jakarta.
When police raided Room 12 at Hanover Hotel at 5 a.m. Saturday they found five other Nigerians.
Police seized 10 grams of heroin from inside Dennis' jacket, which was hanging on a bedroom wall.
The case will be handled by the Jakarta Police Unit for Foreigner Supervision (POA) for further investigation.
Dennis will be charged under the Psychotropics Law No.5/1997, which carries a minimum sentence of five years in prison and a Rp 50 million fine.
In a separate incident, a man, identified as The Yu Liong, 39, was shot dead by an unknown person for his alleged involvement in the trafficking of the amphetamine-derivative shabu-shabu.
He was shot twice in the head and left side of his chest, a forensic medic of Cipto Mangunkusumo General Hospital said.
"Up until now no one has claimed his body," the medic said.
City police spokesman Lt. Col. E. Aritonang confirmed the shooting but he could not provide further details.
"We're still checking the facts."
Aritonang said police were continuously holding drug raids to anticipate the growing number of consumers and traffickers.
"We are doing the best we can to crack down on these kinds of cases," he added. (edt)