Fields of marijuana cultivations were found in remote locations within the gray areas of the Indonesia-PNG border, while cannabis seeds were supplied from PNG, Head of the BNN-Papua Office Jackson A Lapalonga told ANTARA here on Friday.
To halt the spread of these marijuana cultivations in the gray border areas of the two countries, the BNN closely works with all related stakeholders, including the police and military institutions, he said.
The local community members' active participation was also needed. They, for instance, could report to the police and military whenever they came across marijuana cultivations, Lapalonga said.
The areas within Indonesian territory which are vulnerable to cross-border drug lords' targets for planting marijuana are, among others, the districts of Keerom, Pegunungan Bintang, Boven Digul, and Jayapura city, he added.
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Indonesia remains under grave threat from drug dealers, as several individuals from its working-age population have been embroiled in a vicious circle.
The BNN's report that some 50 Indonesians die of drug use daily, which has not deterred drug users in the country from consuming these banned substances.
The users of crystal methamphetamine, narcotics, marijuana, and other types of addictive drugs are from all communities and cross all socio-economic and cultural backgrounds, according to officials.
Among the drug users are entertainers. Indonesia's world of entertainment remains vulnerable to drugs, as is apparent from the arrests of several entertainers found to be using drugs, as well as some involved in the sales of illicit drugs.
Over the past three years, at least 12 Indonesian entertainers -- Ammar Zoni, Rio Reifan, Roro Fitria, Fachri Albar, Fariz RM, Jennifer Dunn, Steve Emmanuel, Zul Zivilia, Jefri Nichol, Tri Retno Prayudati alias Nunung Srimulat, Nanie Darham, and Lucinta Luna -- were arrested by police and tried for drug offences.
Related news: Saving Indonesia's entertainers from drug trap
The more recent case that drew significant attention was of female movie star Nanie Darham being arrested in Jakarta on February 2 for allegedly selling cocaine, with police investigators accusing her of obtaining the cocaine from a drug lord outside Indonesia by ordering through social media platforms.
Indonesia is seen 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 to have reached some Rp66 trillion.
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Translator: Evarukdijati, Rahmad Nasution
Editor: Yuni Arisandy Sinaga
Copyright © ANTARA 2020
