"I highly appreciate and I am proud of military chief.Gen. Gatot Nurmantyo for the initiative to clean the military from drug related offense," Budi Waseso said here on Friday.
The TNI soldiers committing drug abuses have to be punished as the TNI is the main pillar and the last fortress in the state defense, he said.
"It would be the end of the nation if all of our solders became drug addicts," he said.
Similarly drug is a threat to police and firm measure would be taken against police officers committing drug abuse or drug related crimes, he said.
Drug addicted police officers could not carry out their duty as law enforcers, he said.
Budi Wasesos statement came followed an initiative taken by the Army Reserve Strategic Command (Kostrad) conducting urine test among its solders.
The test found indications that 8 of 146 soldiers undergoing test had consumed drugs.
The army headquarters said punishment would be meted out with dismissal from the service while they still face legal case.
Army spokesman Brid.Gen. M Sabrar Fadhilah said on Thursday, military chief Gen. Gatot Nurmantyo had declared war against drug abuses.
Sabrar Fadhilah, however, said investigation is still in progress of the suspects.(*)
Editor: Heru Purwanto
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