The Unending Drug War

Drug crime in Jakarta has entered a new and worrying phase. Even small-time dealers are no longer afraid of the authorities. They are fighting back, willing to murder police officers who are pursuing them.

Two weeks ago, Brig. Taufik Hidayat, a member of the Senen district police narcotics unit, and an informant known as Cibe were killed while taking part in a raid on a drug den in Kampung Berlan, East Java. According to a witness, when Taufik and three other detectives arrived, knife-wielding associates of drug dealer Anthoneta Christina, alias Mama Yola, surrounded and attacked them.

February 2, 2016