'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)