Before being destroyed, the evidence was examined by the relevant authorities from the Medan-based forensics laboratory, North Sumatra Police Chief Inspector, General Agus Andrianto, said in Medan, the capital city of North Sumatra Province, on Monday.
The crystal meth and ecstasy pills were destroyed by blending them in boiling water and then throwing them into a hole in the ground, while the marijuana was burned, he said, adding that the drug raid also resulted in the arrest of 72 suspects.
The success of the police in arresting the suspects and seizing the drugs has saved so many Indonesians because confiscating one gram of crystal meth or sabu-sabu can save the lives of 10 people, while seizing one ecstasy pill can save one individual.
"Some 314,552 people have been saved thanks to the success of the police in destroying the drugs," he added.
Indonesia remains under grave 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 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 at 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 relentless fight against them. Related news: Police seize 70kg of methamphetamine from Indonesia-Malaysia network
Related news: Narcotics agency destroys meth smuggled from Malaysia
Translator: Juraidi, Rahmad Nasution
Editor: Suharto
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