Banjarmasin, S Kalimantan (ANTARA) - A drug dealer in Banjarmasin, the capital city of South Kalimantan Province, used the canteen of Public Primary School (SDN) of Antasan Kecil Timur I to sell packs of crystal methamphetamine, Head of South Kalimantan Police's Narcotics Directorate Adjunct Sen Coms, Sigit Kumoro, said.

The case was uncovered after the anti-drug squad personnel of the local police received a tip-off and nabbed a suspected drug dealer identified by his initials as FS, 37, and confiscated three packs of crystal meth weighing 0.79 grams, Kumoro revealed in Banjarmasin on Monday. Local residents suspected him of selling packs of crystal meth or sabu-sabu to different individuals at the school canteen. The suspect happens to reside near the school and awaited potential consumers at the school canteen.

Following the tip-off, the South Kalimantan Police anti-drug unit set up a team of investigators and conducted a thorough investigation for a week, which ended with the arrest of FS when he was waiting for potential buyers, he said.

Kumoro said the suspect might target local students and that the parents and teachers councils of schools need to be cautious.

Indonesia remains under serious threat from drug dealers, as several individuals from its working-age population have been embroiled in a vicious circle.

According to the National Narcotics Agency's (BNN's) report, some 50 drug use-related deaths occur in Indonesia. However, their deaths have failed to deter other 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 dissuade drug traffickers, who continue to treat Indonesia as one of their main markets even as Indonesian law enforcers continue their ceaseless fight against them.
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Translator: Firman, Rahmad Nasution
Editor: Suharto
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