Drugs squad on training course

JAKARTA: The Singapore office of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) is holding an international narcotics law enforcement training course here for Indonesian narcotics police officers.

The course, held in cooperation with the American Embassy in Jakarta, was launched by U.S. Ambassador to Indonesia Ralph L. Boyce on Monday.

National Police Inspectorate General head Comr. Gen. Alwi Lutan also addressed the opening session of the course, which has been given in various countries around the world.

Lutan expressed a commitment to work closely with the DEA and other law enforcement agencies to combat the trafficking of narcotics.

In the course, "the DEA conducts two one-week airport interdiction classes," the U.S. Embassy said in a statement.

In his remarks, Ambassador Boyce said, "All of us have a common goal to rid our countries of the epidemic of drugs and cooperation, assistance and information-sharing among law enforcement agencies in different countries are crucial in order to effectively combat international organized crime, in which drug-trafficking plays a major role." -- JP