Berinto, 35, could have violated the integrity pack that the Nasdem Party leader, Surya Paloh, and the party's secretary general, Jhonny G Plate, had signed on July 4, 2018. Therefore, he would be replaced by another cadre appointed by the party, Bety said.
Berinto passed the medical check-up when he was nominated as one of the party's legislative candidates for Kapuas District, Central Kalimantan Province, but later tested positive for drug use, Bety told journalists here on Sunday.
According to the Nasdem Party's integrity pack, the party's legislative candidates or presidential and vice presidential candidates are prohibited from getting involved in serious crimes such as corruption, drug use and trafficking, sexual assault, and terrorism.
Bety said the replacement of Berinto is aimed at enforcing the law based on the party's integrity pack and would also act as a deterrent to the other cadres.
Related news: Anti-drug agency shoots dead drug kingpin in Aceh
In August 2018, Ibrahim Hasan alias Ibrahim Hongkong, a member of Langkat District's legislative body in North Sumatra Province, was arrested for his alleged involvement in trans-national drug trafficking activities.
Due to this case, Ibrahim was sacked from the membership of the National Democrat Party (Nasdem), which had paved the way for his political career until he was elected as a member of Langkat District's legislative body.
Indonesia remains under grave threat from drug dealers, as several individuals from its working-age population have been engulfed in a vicious circle.
The National Narcotics Agency's (BNN's) report of some 50 Indonesians dying daily of drug use has failed to deter drug users in the country from consuming these banned substances.
Users of crystal methamphetamine, narcotics, marijuana, and other addictive drugs transcend communities and socio-economic and cultural backgrounds.
Hence, Indonesia is perceived by both domestic and transnational drug dealers as a potential market due to its huge population and millions of drug users. The value of the drug trade in the country is estimated to have reached nearly Rp66 trillion.
In response to the illicit drugs that drug kingpins have smuggled into and traded in the country over the past few decades, the Indonesian government continues to apply punitive measures against them.
Indonesian President, Joko Widodo, had also issued shoot-at-sight orders against drug kingpins.
However, this has failed to deter drug traffickers. They continue to treat Indonesia as one of their main markets even as Indonesian law enforcers continue unabated their fight against them.
Related news: Aceh remains main gate of drug smugglers: BNN
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Translator: Kasriadi, Rahmad Nasution
Editor: Sri Haryati
Copyright © ANTARA 2019
