Pubdate: Sat, 23 Aug 2003
Source: Jakarta Post (Indonesia)
Copyright: The Jakarta Post
Contact:  http://www.thejakartapost.com
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/645
Author: Multa Fidrus, The Jakarta Post, Tangerang

PRISON A HAVEN FOR DRUG SALES

Drug dealing is certainly a profitable business, making it irresistible to 
inmates of the Tangerang penitentiary. They can operate quite efficiently 
from behind bars, seemingly undeterred by death sentences, already handed 
down by the Tangerang District Court.

Using mobile phones to sell drugs to other inmates and to buyers outside 
the prison's walls, they sell a range of drugs: cocaine, putaw (low-grade 
heroin), shabu-shabu (crystal methamphetamine), ecstasy pills and marijuana.

They are either fearless or ignorant of the fact that 21 people, including 
six women, were sentenced to death for drug related crimes in the last 
three years. Marijuana and shabu-shabu are commonly sold in tiny packages 
for only Rp 10,000 (US$1.17) each.

Police recently raided the penitentiary, arresting 11 inmates for alleged 
involvement in drug dealing and seized 69 packages of marijuana and 250 
grams of shabu-shabu. They later declared five of the inmates to be 
suspects and the remaining six prisoners, witnesses in the case.

The five inmates were Marwan Abdullah, 45, believed to be the group leader; 
Ridwan Sidik, 28, Jupri Ibrahim, 28, Irwandi Ibrahim, 30, and Damiri 
Gultom, 40. One of the five suspects talked to The Jakarta Post about the 
drug deals that went on in the penitentiary.

The inmate, who asked for anonymity, said that drugs within the prison were 
sold by word of mouth.

"But transactions with people outside the penitentiary were directly 
handled by our leader, Marwan. He contacted the buyers via his cell phone," 
he said.

The penitentiary's visiting room is a favorite place for drug transactions 
between prisoners, and outsiders who pretend to be their relatives or friends.

Although the room is guarded by two officers -- one inside and another 
behind the door -- the transactions can still be conducted freely.

Last month, the penitentiary's guards arrested a woman, who claimed to be 
visiting her boyfriend. They found a gram of putaw hidden in her sandal.

But the woman is the only supplier to have been arrested. Many drug 
suppliers are believed to still be operating in the penitentiary.

The penitentiary warden Jejen Zaenal HD admitted to the possibility of 
collusion between the prison guards and inmates.

"We would not hesitate to fire the prison guards if we found them 
cooperating with inmates in drug transactions," Jejen told the Post, adding 
that he had already fired two guards for their involvement in drug deals.

He claimed that the penitentiary's methods for detecting drugs -- such as 
the body searches of visitors and inmates -- had failed to curb the drug 
business.

He said that he had asked the National Narcotics Body to assist the 
penitentiary by providing sniffer dogs but it had not responded yet.

In the meantime the inmates are free to continue with their business.
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MAP posted-by: Keith Brilhart