People's part in drug raids hailed
People's part in drug raids hailed
JAKARTA (JP): Governor Sutiyoso praised on Tuesday the
involvement of Jakartans, including housewives, on recent police
raids against drug traffickers and consumers.
Sutiyoso said the role of family members in eliminating drug
trafficking in the city was important.
"Housewives should be on the front line of a campaign against
drugs. I support it," he said at City Hall.
He said housewives should not only report incidents to the
police, but also be proactive in telling their children to avoid
using or selling drugs.
Hundreds of residents in Kayu Putih subdistrict, East Jakarta,
helped police on Saturday arrest at least 30 men for allegedly
selling drugs in houses in the area.
In the raid, police confiscated one kilogram of marijuana, 35
grams of a derivative of shabu-shabu (crystal methamphetamine)
and Rp 13.5 million in cash.
East Jakarta Police chief Lt. Col. Tjiptono said 24 of the
suspects were released and the remaining six were still being
detained.
Sutiyoso called on school teachers in the city to join the
antidrug campaign by supervising students.
He warned that drug trafficking had reached elementary schools
and claimed students as victims.
City Police chief Maj. Gen. Noegroho Djajoesman also praised
Jakartans' involvement to help police arrest drug traffickers.
"I welcome people telling us that there were drug trafficking
activities in their neighborhood and helping in the arrest of
dealers and traffickers," Noegroho said.
But he called on the public to hand over suspects to the
police and not put justice into their own hands.
City councilor, Abdul Aziz Matnur, praised the public for
having the spirit to fight drug trafficking in the city.
He questioned, however, the police's duty in arresting drug
traffickers.
"It's a police duty and not the public's. It would be better
if people just report to police if they know of any drug
trafficking in their neighborhood," Aziz of the Justice Party
(PK) said.
He said people should not get involved in subsequent police
duties as they might mistakenly arrest the wrong suspect.
"Their involvement in subsequent police duties could be used
by certain people to arrest people whom they dislike," he
said. (jun)