Surabaya, E Java (ANTARA) - The East Java Police, on Thursday, destroyed 28 kilograms of crystal methamphetamine, or popularly known as sabu-sabu, recently confiscated in drug raid operations that the policemen conducted in six places around the province. The illicit drug was part of the 65 kg of crystal meth that was seized by the East Java police officers from the suspects, arrested during several raids this year, Chief of the East Java Police's Narcotics Division Sen. Coms SG Manik told journalists.

The police officers also arrested several suspected drug dealers and couriers. A majority of the crystal meth was smuggled from overseas into Indonesia, he said.

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 (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.

Related news: Customs-BNN foil attempt to smuggle 100 kilograms of meth

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.

Due to the ongoing serious threats posed by these drug lords, on December 5, 2019 BNN Chief Commissioner General Heru Winarko discussed issues with top security minister Mahfud MD on Indonesia's war on drugs, including the need to execute death row convicts.

"Capital punishment is part of the laws that should be implemented," he told journalists following his meeting with the coordinating minister for political, legal, and security affairs.

Several death row prisoners have yet to be executed for drug-related offences. Apart from this issue, he also deliberated on several other matters, including drugs in prison.

The easiest way to deal with incidents of drugs in prison was to stall communication networks inside penitentiaries to halt drug transactions, he believes. (INE)

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Translator: Fiqih A, Rahmad Nasution
Editor: Azis Kurmala
Copyright © ANTARA 2019