The Jakarta Metro Police and the provincial government have been very public about their intention to tear down the Kalijodo red-light district, with the police carrying out several raids recently to weaken the stronghold of the organized crime groups operating in the area.
The police carried out one such raid on Saturday at a café belonging to Abdul Aziz, popularly known as Daeng Aziz, an affluent man thought to be one of Kalijodo’s mafia bosses and the most feared man in the red-light district.
Scarily, the police found hundreds of poisoned arrows and several samurai swords in the café during the raid. The police believe the weapons were going to be used later to wage “war” on the police when authorities carry out a large-scale eviction of Kalijodo at the end of the month.
“Back in the day, they (the thugs of Kalijodo) used [poisoned arrows] in times of war. Whenever there was a fight, that was their weapon,” said Krishna Murti, director of the Public Crimes Investigation Unit for the Jakarta Metro Police, as quoted by Tribun.
Other than the deadly weapons, the police have also confiscated hundreds of contraceptives and thousands of liquor bottles, which they are taking as further proof that Kalijodo is still operating as a center for prostitution and other vices.
The Jakarta provincial government and the Jakarta Metro Police are set to evict all of Kalijodo’s residents on February 29th. We hope there will not be any bloodshed on that day.
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