We seized over 60,000 masks
Jakarta (ANTARA) - North Jakarta Police Investigators raided two locations suspected to be surgical masks stockpiling locations and seized more than 60,000 masks.

"We seized over 60,000 masks," said North Jakarta Police Chief, Police Chief Commissioner Budhi Herdi Susianto, speaking in Jakarta on Thursday.

The two locations, he said, were in Pademangan, North Jakarta and Central Jakarta.

Police also apprehended two suspects in the masks stockpiling case, and both are under investigation at the North Jakarta Police headquarters.

In the last few days, Jakarta Metropolitan Police have carried out several raids of individuals who attempted to gain financial benefits during the corona virus emergency, especially in the capital city.

Measures taken by police included checking an illegal mask factory in a storage unit at the Cakung Central Storage space in North Jakarta.


Related news: President orders police action against those stockpiling masks


Also, a storage space in Tangerang was raided, where authorities seized 287 boxes of surgical masks.

Police earlier seized 350 boxes of masks in an apartment in Grogol, West Jakarta.

The stockpiling of masks has become a concern of local authorities and the public amid shortages caused by concerns over the coronavirus in Jakarta.

President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) previously ordered Chief of the National Police General Idham Aziz to take stern measures against those stockpiling masks, after the government announced the country's first two confirmed cases of coronavirus (COVID-19).

"I order the chief of the National Police to take stern measures against irresponsible parties who capitalize on a moment like this by stockpiling masks and selling them at higher prices," the President said. He urged the speculators to stop such activities.

(INE)

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Translator: Fianda SR/Aria Cindyara
Editor: Fardah Assegaf
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