'Drivers involved in thefts'

'Drivers involved in thefts'

JAKARTA (JP): Minister of Transportations Haryanto Dhanutirto
yesterday reminded companies which are shipping their products
for export to investigate the background of their drivers.

"Police investigations have shown that drivers belonging to
exporting companies were involved in cases of theft, " Haryanto
told reporters after a meeting with Vice-President Try Sutrisno.

Police over the past three weeks have arrested members of two
gangs suspected of having stolen over US$1.5 million in local
products bound for export.

Police reported that a smooth system of cooperation
facilitated the operation, which involved the masterminds,
several drivers of the container trucks, warehouse security
guards and also the group which provides the trucks to transport
the stolen goods, and also the fence who accepts the stolen
goods.

Police said that the gangs generally conducted their
operations when the truck traffic into the Tanjung Priok port was
heavy.

"It is impossible that the incident took place inside the port
since the Tanjung Priok port is guarded for 24 hours," Haryanto
said.

"The thefts have damaged the Indonesian exporters'
reputations," Haryanto said. (01)