Nearly 1,000 bottles of liquor seized

JAKARTA (JP): Police and public order officials seized nearly 1,000 bottles of liquor from shops, drink stalls and street vendors located close to high schools in a month-long operation in July, an official said.

"The liquor bottles, with alcohol content up to 40 percent, were seized from shops and stalls located within 200 meters from schools," Toha Reno, head of public facility unit at the city public order office, said on Tuesday.

"None of the vendors were detained, but only the merchandise was seized," he said.

He said the confiscated liquor included locally made vodka, whisky and wine.

The July operation was conducted at 32 junior and senior high schools across Jakarta, he said.

The operation covered Jl. Budi Utomo, Jl. Garuda Kemayoran, Jl. Raya Senen, Jl. Suprapto, Jl. Batu Gambir, Jl. Mangga Besar, and Jl. Diponegoro in Central Jakarta.

It also covered Jl. Perintis Kemerdekaan, Jl. Alur Laut Plumpang, Jl. Cilincing and Jl. Sunter Raya in North Jakarta.

In South Jakarta, the police swept Jl. Raya Tirtayasa, Jl. Manggarai Selatan, Jl. Ragunan and Jl. Tebet.

In West Jakarta, Jl. Mandala Utara Tomang and Jl. Kebon Jeruk, while in East Jakarta, Jl. Sudirman Cijantung, Jl. Pemuda, Jl. Cililitan, Jl. Dewi Sartika and Jl. Raya Bogor were searched.

He said the police also confiscated several sharp weapons during the operation.

"The weapons were either used by the vendors for self defense or sold to students," he said. (ylt)