Drug dealing is family business for some
Damar Harsanto, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
The alarming level of drug trafficking here has, in some cases, become a family business involving all members of the household.
Sofian Ali, head of non-governmental organization Geram (the Antidrug Movement) lamented that this has added to the complexity of the problem that bedevils the nation.
"Drug trafficking is very chronic. While the mother weighs the drugs, the father collects them and their children sell them," said Sofian.
He referred, by way of example, to a family that was arrested during the recent raids in Kampung Bali, Central Jakarta.
During the raid, police managed to arrest a couple, Miftah, 38, and Raswati, 50, caught red-handed while drug dealing.
Sofian, along with 80 Geram members, joined concerted attempts by the police drug squad, to raid, earlier last week, areas notorious for drug dealing: Kampung Bali, Tanah Abang, Central Jakarta, and Pengadegan, South Jakarta.
Given the extent of drug trafficking, Sofian said, the war against it would only be effective if the public participated in efforts to quell it.
Head of the city police drugs squad Adj. Sr. Comr. Anjan Pramuka Putra agreed.
"We have very few personnel to cover vast areas of Jakarta and a huge population," he said.
Police say that currently the ratio between police personnel and residents is 1:800, far from the ideal of 1:400.
Anjan praised the public's contribution by reporting drug trafficking to the police via the telephone or short message service (SMS).
Residents may report information by phone to the police toll- free hotline number 112. They can also send information or complaints to the city police chief via SMS to number 0811 822777, held by the personal assistant of the city police chief.
"However, in most cases, we must recheck the information to ensure that the report is correct," said Anjan, noting that some people were still reluctant to identify themselves to the police.
In a raid on the Army's administrative housing complex in Pengadegan, South Jakarta, a resident said that he had repeatedly reported rampant drug trafficking in that area to the police.
However, the response from the police was inadequate. They carried out raids once in a while, but never really sorted out the problem in the area, he said.
Many people are also reluctant to report drug trafficking to the police. They do not trust them as some police officers have turned out to be drug users. It is also reported that many members of the police, as well as the military, back the illegal businesses.
A police officer was rushed to the hospital due to a drug overdose on New Year's Eve this year. He died on the way to the hospital. In a related development, two other officers were dismissed for suspected involvement in a "drug party" at the Athena discotheque on Jl. Kali Besar, Tambora, West Jakarta, during New Year's Eve celebrations.
However, so far no report has emerged of any errant police officer being tried in court.