CHINA, TAIWAN NARCOTIC SUPPLIERS IN EAST JAVA

Surabaya, Apr 29 (ANTARA) - East Java Police Chief Inspector General Anton Bachrul Alam said China and Taiwan have become the biggest narcotic suppliers in East Java.

"Many of the narcotics in East Java came from China and Taiwan but first went through Malaysia," he said when addressing the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on cooperation in combatting the misuse narcotics between the East Java provincial administration and the East Java police at Grahadi Building here Tuesday.

He said that the narcotics in circulation in East Java mostly consisted of psychotropicals like sabu-sabu and ecstacy.

"The narcotic pushers had considered East Java as a potential market, especially its capital Surabaya," former deputy chief spokesman of the Police Headquarters said.

Anton said that last year the East Java police managed to uncover 2,525 narcotic cases along with 3,280 suspects.

In the January-March 2009 period the police also uncovered 764 narcotic cases and 1,001 suspects.

"Recently we launched a raid against a narcotic factory at the Grand Water Place Apartment, Pakuwon Indah, and customs personnel also foiled the smuggling of narcotics from China and Taiwan," he said.

In 2006, narcotics abuse in Surabaya reached 1,772 cases with 2,407 suspects, but in 2007 the cases increased to 2,255 with 2,789 suspects. In 288 the cases increased to 2,525 with 3,287 suspects.