Sweep nets 13 for visa overstays

JAKARTA (JP): A drug raid carried out on Thursday by the mayoralty office and city police failed to net any drugs, but led to the detainment of 13 African nationals who had overstayed their visas.

During the raid, 23 foreigners were detained, including one Indonesian national who was apprehended for allegedly helping to hide a wanted foreigner.

"The immigration office will be responsible for all of the detainees, who were nabbed from Tanah Abang, Kemayoran and Menteng subdistricts," Central Jakarta Mayor Andi S. Abdullah said. He also said another raid would be soon launched in an area believed to be a haven for African citizens who overstayed their visas.

The detainees are Ousmane Garga, Tadonfo Christoper, Sooop Mustapha, Asong Fack Adison and Keuni Guerilu from Cameroon; Isaac Vinna, Nathanielricks and Seako Kamara from Liberia; Adebay Salawu and Taiwoo Faniyi from Nigeria; Lisahias Tende Kayi from Zimbabwe and Olunpo Penten Ayeni from Zambia.

The detainees were unable to provide a passport and are currently being held at the immigration office until they are deported.

During the raid, a dozen packages containing paper for counterfeit money, as well as a printing machine, were confiscated from hotel room in Menteng. However, the owner of the contraband was not apprehended.

Andi said the raid was aimed at apprehending drug dealers, suspected by officials as coming from African countries. Despite searching about 100 Africans in three subdistricts, officials failed to find any drugs.

Most of the detainees were picked up in hotels or rented rooms in the three subdistricts. Most of them ran businesses from inside the hotels, although some rented warehouses in the vicinity of their rooms.

The Africans attempted to avoid the inspection by hiding in attics and closets. One of them attempted to flee after striking an immigration officer, but he was quickly subdued after residents pinned him down.

Some of the foreigners were released after they showed papers from the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) certifying their refugee status.

However, the immigration officers said individuals with UNHCR papers should remain at the quarantine center in Cengkareng, West Jakarta. They said such individuals were prohibited from residing outside the quarantine vicinity.

Over the past two years, the capital has seen a large influx of African citizens, many of whom are working illegally. (04)