Sweep nets 13 for visa overstays

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)