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)