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