The BNN detected an increase of drugs smuggled from the central to eastern parts of Indonesia, particularly the areas of North Kalimantan, six months agoJakarta (ANTARA) - Drug kingpins in Indonesia are shifting their targeted markets to eastern Indonesia, including the areas of Penajam Passer Utara and Kutai Kartanegara Districts in East Kalimantan Province, the National Narcotics Agency (BNN) revealed on Thursday. The central government has chosen the areas of these two districts to be the site of Indonesia's future capital city to replace Jakarta.
The BNN detected an increase of drugs smuggled from the central to eastern parts of Indonesia, particularly the areas of North Kalimantan, six months ago, according to the BNN Eradication Division Deputy, Inspector General Arman Depari.
In the past, this province was part of East Kalimantan, he told journalists after accompanying the agency's chief, Commissioner General Heru Winarko, to a meeting with Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal, and Security Affairs Mahfud MD.
The drugs are usually smuggled from the provinces of Aceh to North Sumatra through the waters of eastern coastal areas of Sumatra Island.
From North Sumatra, the culprits then transport the drug packages to Riau and Riau Islands Provinces and end up in Indonesia's parts of Kalimantan Island.
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The BNN is currently examining whether or not the trend is related to the planned relocation of Indonesia's capital city from Jakarta to East Kalimantan, Depari said.
"Based on experience, the drug kingpins will always consider where their huge markets are. They see where the rising demands are and in which areas drug users increase significantly," he said.
Several months ago, the agency successfully thwarted an attempt to smuggle more than 100 kilograms of illicit drugs to East Kalimantan.
The total weight of the drugs that could have been confiscated by the BNN officers was "big enough" for East Kalimantan, he added.
During his meeting with Mahfud MD, Chief Commissioner General Heru Winarko discussed various issues related to Indonesia's war on drugs, including a need to execute death row convicts.
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"Capital punishment is part of the laws. It needs to be carried out," he told journalists following his meeting with the coordinating minister for political, legal, and security affairs.
In fact, many death row prisoners for drug offences had not yet been executed. Besides this issue, he also discussed several other matters, including drugs in prison.
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 BNN 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.
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Translator: Zuhdiar Laeis, Rahmad Nasution
Editor: Yuni Arisandy Sinaga
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