Drug traffickers turning to women couriers: Police
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)