The Jakarta Post, Batam/Pekanbaru, Thursday October 31 2013
Riau Islands Police narcotics directorate (Dirnarkoba) claims it has run out of investigative funds due to the numerous cases it has taken forward and that participation by the private sector in supporting drug prevention remains very limited.
Riau Islands Police Dirnarkoba director Comr. Agus Rohmad said his directorate had this year received Rp 750 million (US$68,000) in funds for investigation and prosecution, which was enough to handle only 38 cases. However, in the first half of this year, Dirnarkoba handled 159 cases.
“The investigation and prosecution of drug cases need a lot of funds. Much are used for undercover personnel in the field,” said Agus.
According to Agus, the number of drug-related cases has risen further along with Riau Islands status as the main gateway for narcotics from abroad, such as the disclosure of 160,000 ecstasy pills smuggled in from Malaysia that took more than two weeks to be uncovered.
“It took us two weeks working at sea, and then we had to go to Jakarta to escort the contraband that led us to the dealer. Such an operation needs a huge sum of money. Every year, we conduct hundreds of operations,” said Agus.
According to Agus, the funds could be derived from sources outside the state budget and given in the form of a grant by the private sector or state enterprises, because the law permitted public participation. Public participation, including the private sector, is regulated by Law No. 35/2009.
However, he added not many companies had allocated funds to help prevent and eradicate the dangers of drugs in Riau Islands.
Separately in Riau, an officer from the Riau Police headquarters with the initials of SR was detained on Tuesday by the Lampung Police for his alleged involvement in a drug trafficking network, especially dealing in ecstasy.
Riau Police chief spokesman Adj. Sr. Comr. Guntur Aryo Tejo said SR was middle-rank officer, who last served as head of the foreign representative unit in the Riau Police vital objects security division.
According to Guntur, SR was arrested based on the confession of two drug courier suspects who carried 6,904 ecstasy pills. The suspects, housewives Hesti and Nurmaisyah, were apprehended on a bus that was about to board a ferry to Java at Bakauheni Port in Lampung on Oct. 25.
The contraband, worth Rp 1.4 billion, was packed in 14 clear plastic bags, hidden in a biscuit can and placed in a carton. “The housewives from Pekanbaru admitted they were just SR’s messengers,” Guntur said, adding the police had obtained evidence in the form of voice recording between SR and the two couriers.
“The case will be handled by the Lampung Police, while the Riau Police will impose sanctions against him as he is serving there,” said Guntur.
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do 31 okt 2013 - 4:08