In response to a debate regarding establishing a special prison for drug offenders, the Justice and Human Rights Ministry which oversees prisons across the country is conducting a survey to find the most appropriate island to build such a prison, Head of the National Narcotics Agency (BNN) Commissioner, General Budi Waseso, said here on Wednesday.
The BNN chief made the remarks after visiting a crocodile breeding site at Asam Kumbang in the North Sumagtra capital.
Waseso said he came up with the idea of building such a prison after noticing that the number of drug offenders jailed in various regions was on the rise.
"Only drug convicts who face heavy punishment and death penalty will be kept in custody at the special penitentiary for drug offenders in a remote area," he said.
Before being executed, drug convicts on death row will be kept in the penitentiary, not only to maintain security but also to avoid undesirable things, and act as a deterrent to drug convicts and prevent them from escaping, he said.
Indonesia is now in a state of emergency over drugs, with 4.5 million people listed as drug users as of June 2015.
Earlier this year, more than ten drug convicts, mostly foreigners, had been executed. President Joko Widodo has said he would not give clemency to drug convicts.(*)
Editor: Heru Purwanto
Copyright © ANTARA 2015
