DRUG TRAFFICKERS START TO USE INTERNET: REPORT

JAKARTA (JP): There is a strong indication that a new drug trafficking
operation using the Internet has hit Jakarta and other big cities in the
country, it was reported on Tuesday.

The new mechanism was revealed by Sri Daryanti, director of the
non-governmental organization, Anti Drug Society, and the National
Coordinating Board for Narcotics investigation chief Sr. Comr. Jotje Mende,
during a joint press conference about the United Nation's International
Narcotics Control Board (INCB)'s 2000 report on the growing consumption of
psychotropic substances.

They said on-line drug dealing occurs not only in developed countries, but
also in Indonesia.

"Some drug users said they could also use the Internet to buy the drugs,
besides ordering through telephone calls," Sri told reporters at the United
Nation Information Center, in Central Jakarta.

Without mentioning the web sites providing the drugs, she said the drug
dealers could deliver the drugs in hidden packages.

"The drugs could be hidden in flower pots for drug users who are being
treated in hospital," she said.

Jotje also warned the public to be alert to the on-line trafficking even
though the police have not yet made any arrests for Internet drug
trafficking. "We are still studying the on-line drug deals," said Jotje,
who joined a seminar in Japan on drugs, including online drug trafficking,
last year.

INCB, in the annual report, called all governments to take specific legal
action to prevent the misuse of the Internet for drug trafficking.

The board expressed concern over on-line drugstores and pharmacies for
illegally providing prescription drugs, including internationally
controlled substances to their clients around the world.

Specifically, the Vienna-based institution warned about the growing
consumption of psychotropic substances and methamphetamine.

Jotje admitted that there is also growing consumption of psychotropic drugs
and methamphetamine, known locally here as Ecstasy and shabu-shabu,
respectively.

He said the National Police handled 416 cases regarding psychotropic
substances in 1998, 839 similar cases in 1999; and 1,022 cases from January
to October last year.

The police seized 119,655 Ecstasy pills and 7.7 kilograms of shabu-shabu in
1998, 29,510 pills and 18.6 kilograms of shabu-shabu in 1999; and 77,854
pills and 29 kilograms of shabu-shabu in the same period last year.

Bogor

Separately, the National Police's Community Supervision Division deputy
chief Sr. Comr. Mudji Waluyo revealed that police handled 958 drugs (heroin
and psychotropic) cases in 1998 involving 1,259 local suspects and 49
foreign suspects.

Waluyo told a training session on drugs prevention in the Puncak, near
Bogor, West Java, that the number continued to increase in 1999 as police
dealt with 1,883 cases involving 2,542 locals and 48 foreigners.

From January to October last year, police probed 2,453 drug cases and
arrested 2,229 locals and 55 foreigners.

Of the foreigners arrested last year 19 were Africans, eight were from
Asian countries, two Australians, three Americans and 13 from European
countries.

Waluyo said Aceh was the country's largest marijuana producer as police
seized more than 3,728 kilograms of dried marijuana in the province last year.

He warned that the Bogor area with its fertile soil could be used for
marijuana growing.

Some 50 participants, including students, joined a training session on
drugs prevention, which was organized by the Anti narcotics Brigade
(Brigantik).(jun/21)