Pandjaitan emphasized that the government was serious in its fight against illicit drugs as the number of drug-related cases had increased 13 percent in 2015 compared to the previous year.
"This is recorded as the highest surge in the last five years. The increase in methamphetamine usage reaches 350 percent and ecstasy 280 percent, which is very dangerous," he pointed out.
Some 30 to 50 people die daily due to drug abuse, he revealed.
Drug abuse in Indonesia is worse than terrorism," he remarked.
"Therefore, I urge you, university students, to be wary of narcotics and other illicit drugs. Today, the number of drug users reaches 5.9 million," stated the minister, who was in Bandung to address the students of the Bandung Institute of Technology (ITB) on "The National Politic and Development Planning in the Era of Nawacita".
Nearly 75 percent of drug convicts still manage their drug businesses from jails, he affirmed.
The minister has urged every stakeholder to help fight crimes related to drugs, which are considered to be a common enemy of the nation.(*)
Editor: Heru Purwanto
Copyright © ANTARA 2016
