REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA -- National Police chief Muhammad Tito Karnavian has instructed his staff to act decisively against drug dealers. He ordered the police not hesitate to shoot dead drug dealers who tried to resist during arrest.

Tito said drug dealer is the heart of a network. If the heart stopped, the network is weakened.

"So, I ordered a firm act, if necessary shoot dead if they resist (to be arrested)," he said at National Police headquarters on Tuesday (March 27).

Drugs have become a serious problem in the country. Tito said the police paid a lot of attention to crack down the illicit drug business.

"We must tighten up drug eradication operations in Indonesia," he said.

Four suspects have been arrested in the case of 1.6 tons of methamphetamine smuggling in Batam Island waters by a Taiwanese ship.

Tito promised his subordinates an appreciation and award to those who able to reveal big narcotic cases. He awarded joint team of Drugs Crime Directorate of the National Police's Criminal Investigation Unit and the Customs for uncovering the smuggling of 1.6 tons of methamphetamine in Batam Island waters by a Taiwanese ship on February 20.

Four suspects who are ship crew and skipper have been arrested. They are known as Tan Mai (69), Tan Yi (33), Tan Hui (43, the skipper) and Liu Yin Hua (63) who is a Taiwanese national. "This award is given as motivation," he said.

Ikuti Whatsapp Channel Republika