Investigate the drug cases thereMataram, W Nusa Tenggara (ANTARA) - West Nusa Tenggara Police Chief Inspector General Mohammad Iqbal instructed his personnel to endeavor ceaselessly to uncover drug trade in prison as was recently found to have occurred in the Mataram City penitentiary’s parking area.
"Investigate the drug cases there," Iqbal told journalists after visiting the Mataram City police headquarters here on Thursday evening.
However, utmost professionalism is demanded of the police investigators by following all required standard operating procedures while conducting their duties, he noted while also commending the professional work of his personnel.
On June 8, the Mataram police's anti-drug squad personnel thwarted two transactions of 6.8 grams and 0.94 grams of crystal methamphetamine packages in the parking lot of the city's penitentiary, he remarked.
Nine suspects comprising five inmates, three drug couriers, and a penitentiary warden were arrested as a result of the drug raid operations.
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 daily 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. Drug trade in the country is estimated to reach nearly Rp66 trillion.
In the wake of 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.
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Translator: Dhimas BP, Rahmad Nasution
Editor: Fardah Assegaf
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