Firearms seized during operations

JAKARTA (JP): City police confiscated 95 firearms and arrested 104 people during routine operations held in the past two weeks from Aug. 25 to Sept. 7, police spokesman Sr. Comr. Anton Bachrul Alam announced on Monday.

Anton said the routine night operations, code-named Sapu Jagat and Brantas Jaya 2001 were carried out in Greater Jakarta.

Of the 95 firearms, 48 were pistols, 10 home-made pistols, known locally as doorlop, 16 hunting rifles, 12 gas pistols, and six were rifles.

During the two-week operation from Aug. 25 to Sept. 7, police also confiscated 21 sharp weapons, two grenades, 1985 live bullets, seven rubber bullets, and 55 blank bullets.

In connection with the seizures, police also apprehended 104 suspects.

"The cases range widely. Some were arrested because they could not produce a license for weapons ownership and some were apprehended for allegedly planning to use their weapons to commit crime on public transportation vehicles," Anton said.

Of the total suspects, 32 were arrested for failing to show licenses for their weapons. The remainder were believed to be street criminals who operated on busy districts in Jakarta.

In the other operation, code-named Zebra Jaya, Anton said there were at least 2,000 traffic violations.

"From our records, most of the violations related to car license plates. Many motorists modify their plates but do not report the modifications to us," Anton said. (emf)