Aceh BNN Chief Brig. Gen. Pol. Abdul Naser noted in Banda Aceh City, Aceh Province, on Thursday that the land conversion program is aimed at rehabilitating former marijuana farms.
"We will focus on developing this program for the coming several years," Naser remarked.
He explained that the land conversion program is part of the measures to fight the drug menace in Indonesia.
Naser believes that the misuse of marijuana has affected not only the victims but has also disrupted the security of the state as well as the economic, social, and cultural sectors.
Hence, the agency has sought to halt the distribution of marijuana grown in Aceh.
"Our priority now is to clear all marijuana plantations in the three main districts of Aceh Besar, Gayo Lues, and Bireuen," the chief noted.
On a separate occasion, Aceh Governor Irwandi Yusuf, Aceh BNN Chief Faisal Abdul Naser, Bireuen District Chairman Saifannyr, and Deputy of Aceh Besar District Husaini A. Wahab attended the focus group discussion on the land conversion program, which is part of the Grand Design Alternative Development in Jakarta.
During the discussion, the governor lauded the program and expressed hope that the agency would convert marijuana plantations into more productive land.
"Although the misuse of drugs has escalated from marijuana to crystal meth, we will still back this land conversion program," Yusuf remarked.
Moreover, the agency has called on the law enforcement apparatus to strengthen supervision on drug transactions in the province.
"Our challenge now is that some large packs of marijuana are now still being smuggled out of Aceh into Jakarta and the neighboring country of Malaysia. We should cut the (drug dealer`s) access," the governor stressed.
Reported by M Haris SA
(Uu. KR-GNT/INE)
EDITED BY INE/A014
Reporter: antara
Editor: Heru Purwanto
Copyright © ANTARA 2018
