To this end, local policemen remain on standby to conduct raids at places that may be potential hubs for production of homemade liquor, Jayawijaya Police Chief Adjunct Sen. Coms. Dominggus Rumaropen stated in Wamena, the capital of Jayawijaya District, on Wednesday.
"The arrested liquor producers will stay in prison during the New Year holidays, pending the processing of their cases since alcohol consumption often triggers conflicts at the year-end," he remarked.
A total of 16 recently apprehended liquor producers were charged over violation of the Indonesian Food Law, and the local district court had handled their cases, Rumaropen stated, adding that effective legal sanctions against them were expected to dissuade others.
Meanwhile, on November 2, 2020, the police in Benawa Sub-district, Yalimo District, Papua, had seized 884 bottles of liquor and detained the drivers of three pickup trucks transporting the illegal intoxicant.
The illegal liquor consignment was transported from Jayapura, the capital of Papua Province, to Wamena City in Jayawijaya District, Papua Police spokesperson Sen. Coms. Ahmad Kamal stated earlier.
However, before arriving at Wamena, located some 256 kilometers away from Jayapura, the pickup trucks were stopped by army personnel at the Benawa checkpoint.
The military personnel then handed over the cargoes, pickup trucks, and drivers, only identified by their initials as EP (33), RK (35), and A (32), to the Yalimo police precinct, he revealed, adding that 528 of the 884 bottles of liquor were "Vodka" brands.
Papua continues to reel from the grave problem of alcohol consumption despite a ban on the production, distribution, and sale of liquor in the province since 2016.
In responding to this challenging reality, the local police have persistently striven to crack down on liquor producers, distributors, and sellers there.
The Papuan government has effectively banned the production, distribution, and sale of alcoholic beverages since 2016 in accordance with Regional Government's Regulation Number 15 of 2013.
The regulation is aimed at protecting Papuans from the detrimental effects of alcohol consumption, such as loss of consciousness and engaging in acts of domestic violence and crime. Related news: Police in Papua seize 884 liquor bottles, detain truck drivers
Related news: Papua police seize 1,000 liters of liquor in Nabire district
EDITED BY INE
Translator: Marius FY, Rahmad Nasution
Editor: Suharto
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