City asked to deal with Africans

JAKARTA: Residents in the Central Jakarta areas of Tanah Abang and Pejompongan urged the city administration to take legal action against foreigners of African nationality who were allegedly involved in criminal action.

The residents suspected that the Africans were involved in drug trafficking, using garment and cargo businesses as a cover for their criminal operations.

"We doubt their presence as true businessmen because police often apprehend them in drug and counterfeit money cases," resident Saimin told city-owned beritajakarta.com news portal on Friday.

"Even worse, their cover operations threaten the businesses run by locals."

Officials, however, said the presence of the foreigners was not a matter for their jurisdiction but for immigration instead.

"I have received reports from Tanah Abang on suspicions regarding the presence of Africans," Tanah Abang district head Tihang Helmi told the news portal.

"We can take legal action if they violate public order, but we cannot do anything regarding possible visa violations."

Helmi said that he would be more than happy if the immigration department asked for cooperation in any immigration sweep. -- JP