Immigration office boosts raids

JAKARTA: The immigration office has intensified raids against foreign nationals who have entered the country illegally, resulting in the arrest of 49 foreign nationals last week, an official said.

M. Indra, the immigration office director for monitoring and investigation, said over the weekend that the move was part of the country's antidrug campaign led by the National Narcotics Agency (BNN).

"This is the start," he told reporters at his office.

The immigration office is focusing the raids on nationals from African countries as they have often been found to be involved in the illegal possession of drugs during past raids.

Indra said his office was considering being more selective in giving visas to foreign nationals from African countries. -- JP