Drug cases on the rise in South Kalimantan

BANJARMASIN, South Kalimantan: The chief of South Kalimantan Police, Brig. Gen. Dody Sumantyawan, acknowledged on Wednesday that the number of reported drug cases in the province had soared by 96 percent in 2003. In 2002, the number of drug cases reported was 133, but as of Dec. 31, 2003 it reached 261 cases.

The increased number of drug cases was a result of a greater number of traffickers who has set up operations in the area, he said.

Meanwhile, of the 261 cases, the police force has arrested 183 suspects, in which three of them were police personnel themselves. Most of the drug cases occurred in the South Kalimantan capital of Banjarmasin.

Dody promised that the police force would intensify operations in 2004 to limit drug trafficking. -- Antara