The illicit drugs were confiscated during various drug raid operations that the BNN personnel had conducted in Jakarta, Banten, and several provinces in Sumatra Island from September to November this year, according to BNN spokesman Sulistyo Pudjo.
As mandated by Indonesian Narcotics Law Number 35/2009, the BNN destroyed the drugs confiscated from several suspected drug lords and drug dealers, who got involved in six cases, Pudjo noted in a press statement that ANTARA received in Jakarta on Monday.
One of the cases is the smuggling of 10 kilograms of crystal meth by several members of a Malaysia-Medan drug ring on Sept 28, 2019. The BNN personnel apprehended three suspects, identified by their initials as WT alias Ibnu, MR alias Fai, and AJ alias Wanda, he stated.
Due to the ongoing serious threats posed by these drug lords, on Dec 5, 2019, BNN Chief Commissioner General Heru Winarko discussed issues with top security minister Mahfud MD pertaining to Indonesia's war on drugs, including the need to execute death row convicts.
"Capital punishment is part of the laws that should be imposed," he told journalists following his meeting with the coordinating minister for political, legal, and security affairs.
In fact, several death row prisoners had yet to face execution for drug-related offences. Apart from this issue, he also deliberated on several other matters, including drugs in prison.
He believes that the easiest way to deal with cases of drugs in prison was to stall communication networks inside penitentiaries to halt drug transactions.
BNN Eradication Division Deputy Inspector General Arman Depari conceded to the fact that drug trade in prison was a persistent, questionable problem.
In fact, drug convicts serving their jail terms were able to control the trade through their drug rings, he stated, adding that several on death row convicted of drug offences had yet to be executed.
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 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 drug trade in the country is estimated to reach nearly Rp66 trillion. Related news: BNN chief, security minister discuss death row convicts
Related news: BNN manages to secure 1.5 tons of drugs from convict
EDITED BY INE
Translator: Fathur R, Rahmad Nasution
Editor: Suharto
Copyright © ANTARA 2019
