Jakarta (ANTARA) - A Jakarta Metropolitan policeman shot dead a suspected drug dealer who attacked him and attempted to forcibly take his gun in a recent drug raid operation, a police officer revealed here on Sunday.

"Taufik Rahman attempted to forcibly take the policeman's gun," Head of the Jakarta Metropolitan Police's Narcotics Division Adjunct Sen. Coms Ahmad Fanani said.

Taufik Rahman also brought a home-made handgun and six bullets, he said, adding that the wounded suspect got rushed to the Kramat Jati Police Hospital but the doctors said he had died.

The Jakarta Metropolitan police anti-drug squad personnel launched several drug raid operations from Dec 15 to Dec 20, including the one that they conducted at Taufik Rahman's rented house near the Jakarta Garden City Boulevard, Cakung.

The drug raid operations also resulted in the arrests of other suspects only identified by their initials AS, MRM, DA, YR alias Black, YSB, AB, J, YC, and H in different places around Jakarta as well as Bandung and Garut (West Java).

The police investigators seized 110.3 grams of ecstasy pills, 3.284 grams of crystal methamphetamine, and 10 kilograms of dried marijuana, Ahmad Fanani 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'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.

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," Heru Winarko 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.

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Translator: Devi NSR, Rahmad Nasution
Editor: Fardah Assegaf
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