Indonesia mulls crocodile prison island

An isolated prison island surrounded by hungry and ferocious crocodiles could keep convicted drug traffickers isolated from corrupt guards and drug users, the spokesperson of Indonesia's anti-drug agency, Slamet Pribadi, said on Tuesday.

The head of the country's anti-drug agency has suggested the crocodile plan "so when they try to escape they will be eaten," Slamet explained.

"It's not a human rights violation when a crocodile does the killing," he added, unmoved by human rights concerns.

The agency head, Budi Waseso, said on Monday that he would search Indonesia for the most "ferocious" crocodiles and place many around the proposed island in an apparent attempt to prevent corrupt prison guards from aiding drug kingpins.

"You can't bribe crocodiles. You can't convince them to let inmates escape," Budi was quoted as saying.

The proposal is still in its infancy. No location has been selected or opening date scheduled.

Indonesia has strict drug laws. The Southeast Asian has executed link:18780698:14 convicted drug traffickers so far this year despite concern over fairness in the justice system.# There are 121 people on death row, including 35 foreigners, mostly for drug-related crimes.

Authorities are apparently concerned over drug traffickers' influence in Indonesia's corrupt and drug-rife prisons. Several prison officials have been arrested for facilitating the drug trade.

Slamet said the plan for "a special prison for death row convicts" aimed to prevent them from interacting with other prisoners and recruiting them into gangs.

cw/jil (AFP, dpa)