I am concerned about this condition. Moreover, many cases have been detected [along] with a variety of modus operandi
Jakarta (ANTARA) - Indonesian Deputy House Speaker Azis Syamsuddin has expressed concern over the rise in circulation of drugs targeting younger generations amid the coronavirus pandemic.



“I am concerned about this condition. Moreover, many cases have been detected [along] with a variety of modus operandi. Like in North Sumatra, customs officers at the Kualanamu Airport in Deli Serdang have foiled the delivery of three bottles of liquid drugs from China. The bottles labeled Hemp Oil contained 10 milliliters of suspected Tetrahydrocannabinol each," he said in a statement released on Thursday.



Cases of drug abuse have increased significantly amid the pandemic as reflected by the rise in the number of cases reported by the police, customs authorities, and the National Narcotics Agency (BNN) as of early November, 2020, he noted.



He said he was also concerned by reports of a foiled attempt to smuggle 1 kilogram of crystal methamphetamine from Pekanbaru, provincial capital of Riau, to East Nusa Tenggara province.



The Golkar Party politician appealed to police to take preventive steps and reminded the public of the dangers of drug use, irrespective of age.



"We can imagine the illicit drug business does not recognize time, place, and victims. This becomes the center of DPR's (House of Representatives’) attention. We want security agencies to shut down the space for the circulation of this dangerous good in all parts of Indonesia,” he said.



“If the police once disclosed 2.7 tons of crystal meth as evidence, the figure may reach 4.57 tons today. Surely, this has become the center of our attention. Why is drug circulation on the rise at this difficult time?” he asked.

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Translator: Zuhdiar Laeis/Suharto
Editor: Sri Haryati
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