More suspected drug dealers apprehended
Abdul Khalik, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
With a stepped-up police campaign, more drug dealers are being taken off the streets of the capital.
The head of the Jakarta Police's drug unit, Sr. Comr. Carlo Brix Tewu, said on Thursday the number of dealers arrested went up 34 percent from 235 in June to 314 in July.
"Aside from the dealers, we also arrested over 850 drug users in June and July. We hope these arrests reduce the circulation of drugs in the capital," he said.
Over 70 percent of the drug dealers and users arrested were between the ages of 10 and 27, he said.
During the two-month operation, police confiscated 170 grams of heroin, 208 grams of marijuana, 84 grams of shabu-shabu (crystal methamphetamine) and 83 ecstasy pills.
Carlo said his officers had already arrested hundreds of drug dealers and users in August in a series of raids on nightclubs and discotheques.
He said the nightclub raids had led to the arrests of over 100 suspected users and traffickers, adding that officers also confiscated 286 ecstasy pills and 7.1 grams of shabu-shabu.
Carlo said the police had handed over the case files on most of the suspects to prosecutors.
All of the suspects will be charged under Law No. 22/1997 on narcotics and Law No. 22/1997 on psychotropics.
"It is now up to prosecutors and the courts to give them heavy punishments. We hope the punishments will have a deterrent effect, discouraging drug dealers from operating in Jakarta," Carlo said.
Police have also taken steps to teach young people the importance of saying no to drugs.
The police have organized the Fun Without Drugs program, holding events in nightclubs each week.
Two weeks ago an event was held at the Embassy Discotheque in West Jakarta, and last week at the Millennium disco in West Jakarta. This week a party will be held at Dragonfly in South Jakarta.
Despite the success in arresting drugs dealers and users, police have been unable to touch the sources of the drugs, arresting just one suspected producer during the campaign.
Carlo said the police were having trouble because most of the drugs came from abroad.
"Although locals can now produce drugs, there are not many local players in the business. We are still tracking them down. Most drugs come from abroad. It is difficult to watch all of the entryways into the country," he said.
He said the police required assistance from other agencies, including the immigration office, the customs and excise office and the Navy, to stop the flow of drugs into the country.