Nine arrested for heroin

JAKARTA: The police arrested nine people, including four Africans and a Thai, on Thursday night for allegedly trafficking drugs.

Chief of the narcotics police detectives Adj. Snr. Com. Carlo B. Tewu told reporters on Friday that the five foreigners were Phisawa Nirat, a 23-year-old Thai woman, Frederic Kowkow, 30, and Tindwa Dodi, 21, both Nigerians, Skaren Rubiza, 24, and Speven Oc, 31, both from Zimbabwe.

They were arrested in a room at the Hotel Alia in Central Jakarta.

Carlo said that the police seized several plastic bags and boxes -- apparently containing trace residues of heroin. However, no other sign of drugs were found in the room.

"They must have sold them," Carlo explained.

The foreigners were nabbed following the arrest of four Indonesians earlier in the evening, Bambang W, 30, Nina, 23, Wina, 23, and Adhi, 25.

The police arrested Bambang and Nina at the Klub Rasuna compound in South Jakarta, and seized 4.9 grams of heroin, while the other two were arrested in the Rasuna Apartments, with 50 grams of heroin. --JP