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)