REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAMBI -- The number of narcotics users in Indonesia is now 4.2 million, Chief of the National Narcotics Agency (BNN) Isp. Gen. Anang Iskandar said.
"The number of narcotics addicts in Indonesia is large, which is a big problem. There are some 4.2 million drug addicts in the country. If they recover (from the addiction), drug trafficking will no longer be prevalent in Indonesia," Iskandar stated after attending the 58th anniversary of Jambi province here on Tuesday (6/1).
He added that many drug dealers use sea lanes to smuggle the contrabands to the country, as was seen in the recent case involving the confiscation of 800 kilograms of crystal methamphetamine in Cengkarang.
"Many of them use sea lanes to smuggle narcotics in large volumes. But when the amount is small, they usually use air transportation. They smuggle in at least 40 kilograms of drugs when they use sea lanes," he explained.
The BNN chief further noted that the measures taken by the agency to fight the trafficking of narcotics includes cooperating with neighboring countries and the navy, along with patrolling the sea and coastal areas, and tightening supervision in the border regions.
"We continue to coordinate with the Indonesian Defense Forces (TNI) and the water and air police. An important factor to deliberate over is ways to build international cooperation," Iskandar pointed out.
Furthermore, the narcotics agency seized and confiscated 840 kilograms of crystal methamphetamine at Lotte Mart Taman Surya Park, Kalideres, West Jakarta, on Monday.
This is the largest amount of illegal drugs ever confiscated by the BNN. "This was the biggest confiscation in BNN's history," Deputy for Narcotics Eradication Affairs of the BNN Brig. Gen Dedi Fauzi revealed here on Tuesday.
On Monday, January 5, the BNN arrested nine suspected narcotics dealers. They were caught red-handed while conducting their transactions at Lotte Mart Taman Surya Park.
The nine suspects were four Hong Kong citizens, one Malaysian, and four Indonesians, known by their initials as SL, SN, TST, TSL, SEF, CHM, WCP, SJJ, and ADK, respectively.
The BNN confiscated 42 sacks that altogether contained 840 kilograms of methamphetamine.
According to Fauzi, the drug syndicates had been hunted for years by the seven countries of Hong Kong, Malaysia, the Philippines, China, Thailand, Myanmar, and Indonesia.
Moreover, in Jakarta, a musician known by his initials "FRM" was arrested by the South Jakarta Metro Police Department for alleged possession of heroin.
"Yes, FRM, the musician, is now being investigated by the Narcotics and Dangerous Drugs Department," Head of South Jakarta Metro Police Department Senior Commissioner Wahyu Hadiningrat stated here on Tuesday.
However, Hadiningrat has yet to divulge any further details regarding the evidence and the arrest location of FRM.
He noted that the police will issue an official statement related to the case at the earliest.
Ikuti Whatsapp Channel Republika
