Drug dealer fled and shot dead

Sat, 09/13/2008 10:01 AM  |  City

JAKARTA: A Nigerian drug dealer was shot dead by police as he tried to run away Friday at dawn.

Steve (38) had gone with the police to Bukit Sentul, Bogor, to catch another drug dealer. He told the police he wanted to relieve himself and police let him out of the car. He took off running instead.

The police said they gave a warning shot, but he ignored it. They tried to shoot him in the leg but hit him in the chest and back. He died on the spot.

He had been caught red-handed with 100 grams of heroin at a hotel in Kemayoran, South Jakarta, on Thursday evening.

"Steve said he got it from MEK, a Nigerian citizen living in Bukit Sentul," said Arman Depari, head of narcotics at Jakarta Police headquarters, as quoted in the police report.

The police said they suspected Steve was part of an international drug ring and they are still looking for MEK.

Steve was identified after another apprehended drug dealer, Viktor Thembo Macoba, admitted the 59.6 grams of heroin he had on him had come from Steve. Viktor had been fingered in turn by Mardinah, a heroin courier, Wednesday. -- JP

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