Narcotics agency nabs 27 foreigners

Narcotics agency nabs 27 foreigners

JAKARTA: The City Narcotics Agency (BNP), along with the
Jakarta immigration office and the City Population Agency, nabbed
27 foreigners on Wednesday night in raids on places known to be
frequented by drug traffickers in Central, West and South Jakarta
municipalities.

The joint team immediately released eight foreigners as they
were not proven to have violated any regulations.

A police report said that the foreigners were from Germany,
France, Mali, Zambia, Ethiopia, the Ivory Coast and the
Philippines.

Of the remaining 19 foreigners, only two of them -- a French
national and a man from Cameroon -- were arrested for possessing
drugs. They are being detained at the Jakarta Police Headquarters
for further investigation.

Two others were arrested for having equipment and materials
allegedly used to produce counterfeit banknotes. Two more
foreigners were declared guilty of violating a bylaw on
population, which requires them to report their whereabouts after
staying in the country for more than 14 days and were fined Rp
500,000 (US$59) each. Thirteen foreigners were charged with
immigration violations.

"The raid was meant to prevent drug abuse," said Adj. Sr.
Comr. Carlo Tewu, the Jakarta Police narcotics division chief. --
JP