American citizen shot in drug raid

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)