City asked to deal with Africans

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