Servicemen still face drug probes

JAKARTA (JP): National Military Police Chief Brig. Gen. Syamsu ordered his personnel yesterday to intensify their joint operation with police to detain any Armed Forces members believed to be part of an Ecstasy drug syndicate.

"This instruction applies to all military police, including those in Jakarta, to find out any possible roles of Armed Forces members in the trafficking of Ecstasy pills," Syamsu said.

According to the one-star general, the instruction is based on an order from Armed Forces Commander Gen. Feisal Tanjung, who instructed the National Military Police headquarters to be more active and take strict measures against indisciplined Armed Forces members.

"We really mean business because this is about our image," Syamsu warned.

"What happened at the Tangerang Police precinct should not happen again," he said, referring to last Friday's escape of an suspected Ecstasy trafficker while in the custody of the head of the Tangerang detectives. The officer in question is now detained at the Jakarta Police Internal Affairs division.

Rumors have it that the officer, Capt. Ade Sutiana, played a significant role in the escape of Zarima, 24, who was arrested last Wednesday for allegedly possessing 29,677 Ecstasy pills.

As of yesterday, the female suspect is still at large.

"We'd like to ask her to give herself up to the police, or don't blame us if she is shot later during her arrest," Tangerang Police chief Lt. Col. Djoko Satryo said Wednesday. (bsr)