They are truly eligible to receive rewardsJakarta (ANTARA) - The National Police's Red and White Special Task Force personnel are duly entitled to receive rewards to commend their success in busting several major drug cases over the past few years, a researcher stated.
"They are truly eligible to receive rewards," Executive Director of the Center for Strategic Studies on Indonesian Police (Lemkapi) Edi Hasibuan remarked here on Tuesday in connection with the task force's achievements in Indonesia's war on drugs.
Lemkapi, as a representative of Indonesian communities, will bestow an award on the National Police's Red and White Special Task Force since its achievements are expected to inspire other special task forces to emulate the same, he noted.
The success achieved by the task force personnel in uncovering the biggest drug cases has also helped to save scores of Indonesians from being siphoned into a vicious circle of drug abuse and crimes, he affirmed.
Hasibuan further drew attention to the success of the police's special task force during its drug raid operations.
In July 2017, the task force personnel seized one ton of illicit drug in the Anyer area of Serang District, Banten Province.
On May 19, 2020, under the command of Brig. Gen. Ferdy Sambo and Sen. Coms. Herry Heryawan, the task force personnel again confiscated 821 kilograms of crystal methamphetamine in Serang District, Banten Province.
On June 4, 2020, the task force's drug raid in Banten Province helped the police to uncover another case involving the smuggling of 402.38 kilograms of crystal methamphetamine from the Middle Eastern region into Indonesia aboard a hired fishing boat.
Members of a transnational drug ring reportedly paid Rp240 million to a local fisherman in Sukabumi District, West Java Province, to rent his boat that was then used to transport drugs from the international waters to the southern waters of the district.
As recently disclosed by Chief of the National Police's Criminal Investigation Department, Coms. Gen. Listyo Sigit Prabowo, the drug traffickers took the crystal meth package to a house in the Villa Taman Anggrek housing complex in Sukaraja Village, Sukaraja Sub-district. They were reportedly renting the house in the elite housing complex to store drugs.
Domestic and transnational drug dealers view Indonesia as a potential market due to its vast population and millions of drug users. Drug trade in Indonesia is valued at almost Rp66 trillion.
According to the National Narcotics Agency’s (BNN’s) report, some 50 drug use-related deaths occur daily in Indonesia. However, the death toll have failed to dissuade other drug users in the country.
In the face of the grave threat posed by drug lords, BNN chief commissioner General Heru Winarko has also suggested to impose capital punishment on those involved in drug trade in the country.
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Related news: International drug dealers caught smuggling drugs on fishing boat
Related news: Indonesian Police bust 821-kg crystal meth following warehouse raid
Translator: Boyke LW, Rahmad Nasution
Editor: Fardah Assegaf
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