Pilot extradition bid part of war on drug syndicates
Pilot extradition bid part of war on drug syndicates
JAKARTA (JP): The effort to extradite the Indonesian pilot
being detained in the Netherlands for attempting to smuggle
Ecstasy is aimed at cracking down on drug trafficking syndicates
in Indonesia.
Attorney General Singgih said yesterday that the government
can expand the investigation if the suspect is tried here.
"We intend to smash drug syndicates in Indonesia and we can do
that by questioning and trying the suspect here," Singgih told
reporters after installing the new chief of the Provincial
Prosecutor's Office at the city council building.
He said that the government is still lobbying the Dutch
authorities to extradite the pilot through diplomatic channels
and Interpol because there is no extradition treaty between the
two countries.
The suspect, identified as Mohammad Said, 49, a pilot for
Garuda Indonesia, was arrested on Sunday at Schipol Airport for
trying to smuggle 8,000 Ecstasy pills to Jakarta.
On Thursday, National Police Chief Lt.Gen. Dibyo Widodo said
that so far there is no evidence that the suspect is a member of
a drug trafficking syndicate.
However, Dibyo said that a preliminary investigation found
that Said was carrying the drugs for someone.
Dibyo also said that his office is still waiting for the
result of the investigation conducted by the Dutch police which
can be used by the Indonesian police to question the suspect
here.
"The Dutch police have promised to send us the result of their
investigation. Just wait, maybe it is on the way," Dibyo said as
quoted by Antara news agency yesterday.
Ecstasy is popular among young Indonesian adults attending
"raves" -- huge, extended dance parties.
Ecstasy made news for the first time here in connection with
the death of a young businessman at the house of well-known
actress Ria Irawan in January last year.
The pills are sold illegally at nightspots in the city for
between Rp 75,000 (US$32.6) and Rp 200,000 each.
The government has been cracking down on drug traffickers by
raiding nightspots in the city.
A total of 62,630 Ecstasy pills have been seized in raids
conducted in Jakarta from January to July this year. (yns)