Eliminating the confiscated drug package is part of our commitment to conducting a harsh war on drugsMedan, N Sumatra, (ANTARA) - The Medan Metropolitan Police was able to protect 350 thousand citizens from being siphoned into a vicious circle of illicit drugs following recent success in seizing 35-kilogram (kg) crystal methamphetamine, a police officer stated.
One gram of crystal meth, or locally known as sabu-sabu, could have been consumed by 10 drug users, Medan Metropolitan Police Chief Sen. Coms. Riko Sunarko notified journalists on the sidelines of the elimination of the confiscated drug package here Friday.
The crystal meth package was confiscated from two suspected members of a Malaysia-Indonesia drug ring that the Medan city police officers apprehended during two drug-raid operations in Medan and Tanjung Balai, North Sumatra Province, in May, he said.
The 35-kg crystal meth package was seized from the two suspects, believed to belong to the Malaysia-Tanjung Balai-Medan drug syndicate. One of the suspects was identified as Ilham, 30, and was arrested at a road section of Sisingamangaraja in Medan on May 21.
The police confiscated a 5-kg package of crystal meth from Ilham, while another 30-kg package of crystal meth was seized from Doddy Sitorus, who was gunned down during the police's drug-raid operation at the Tanjung Balai Port on May 31.
"Eliminating the confiscated drug package is part of our commitment to conducting a harsh war on drugs," he affirmed.
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, this has 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 remarked, adding that several on death row convicted of drug offences had yet to be executed.
Related news: Indonesian Police bust 821-kg crystal meth following warehouse raid
Related news: Police seize 71 kg drugs from trucks carrying food supplies
Close
EDITED BY INE
Translator: Nur ABS, Rahmad Nasution
Editor: Fardah Assegaf
Copyright © ANTARA 2020
