Drug traffickers turning to women couriers: Police

JAKARTA (JP): Fearing arrest themselves, some drug traffickers have begun recruiting young Indonesian girls as smugglers and dealers, a senior officer said on Thursday.

The chief of the National Police narcotics division, Col. Wilhelmus Laturette, said this tactic has become common among African-run drug syndicates, who use local Indonesian girls as couriers.

Police across the country are now on alert for any African- Indonesian couples, he told The Jakarta Post.

"In the past two years that I have held this post, most of the drug arrests in Indonesia have largely involved Africans, particularly Nigerian men and their women," Wilhelmus said.

The officer said it was a pity that so many young local women had become involved in the illegal trade.

"If you look around now, holding the arms of many African men are Indonesian girls. We call it the 'love connection'. The latest case is that of an Indonesian girl caught in Pakistan," he said, referring to Elizabeth Ruth, 26, an Indonesian national arrested in mid-August at the Karachi international airport carrying 3.3 kilograms of heroin.

Wilhelmus quoted a report of an investigation conducted by Pakistan police as saying that Elizabeth admitted she had a Nigerian boyfriend in Indonesia who had coaxed her into taking a vacation to Jordan.

"During a stopover at Karachi on a flight to Jakarta, a girl approached her and introduced herself as a friend of her Nigerian lover. The girl then asked Elizabeth to deliver a package to the Nigerian in Jakarta," the officer said.

Elizabeth was caught by airport customs officers on her way back to the plane with the package, which contained the heroin.

Wilhelmus noted that the offers made by the African men to their Indonesian girlfriends were quite alluring.

"They promise the Indonesian girls the world. After all, the Nigerians are very rich, and the economic condition in Indonesia is poor," he said.

"Still, is money more important than one's life? That girl caught in Pakistan will face hell now," he said.

Another popular technique used by well-organized syndicates is to smuggle drugs in the post or private cargo services, hidden in packages of other goods, such as electronic children's toys.

"That's difficult to detect even with the latest equipment we have," Wilhelmus said.

He commended the relationship among Interpol's worldwide offices, explaining this had helped reveal important information on drug crimes.

"It's quite difficult for us to make the arrests without their help," he said.

Earlier, National Police spokesman Brig. Gen. Togar M. Sianipar suggested that Indonesia should consider introducing the death penalty for drug offenders.

"If Indonesia is really serious in its war against drugs, the government must consider drafting a law to enact the death penalty for drug traffickers and dealers," he told reporters.

"Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand and Japan sentence drug traffickers and dealers to death. While drug dealers in Indonesia can simply get out of jail within months," he said.

Article 60 of Law No. 5/1997 on psychotropic substances carries a maximum penalty of 15 years in jail or a fine of up to Rp 200 million (US$26,300) for possession, sale or use.

But officer Wilhelmus said the death penalty could also be "useless".

"The country needs driven police officers and judges who can ensure that a trafficker stays in jail for at least a full four- year term. Here, traffickers get out in three months," he said.

Police have recorded 521 narcotics-related cases in the first half of this year. (ylt)