The buskers become the volunteers of our public awareness campaign. They are propagating the message of - say no to drugs - to the local peopleBanda Aceh, Aceh (ANTARA) - The National Narcotics Agency (BNN) has roped in street performers busking in cities in Aceh Province to join in the agency's efforts to raise public awareness of the dangers of drug addiction.
"The buskers become the volunteers of our public awareness campaign. They are propagating the message of - say no to drugs - to the local people," BNN-Aceh Office Head Heru Pranoto remarked.
Through the illicit drug prevention messages echoed by the buskers, increasingly more number of people will become aware of the dangers of drugs, Pranoto noted in a press statement that ANTARA quoted here on Monday.
The buskers send across these valuable messages while performing at cafes that aim to change for the better the people's mindset on drug prevention, Pranoto stated.
Apart from recruiting street performers, the BNN-Aceh Office also intensifies its drug prevention campaigns by setting up information centers at places that draw crowds.
"This information center is set up at the Blangpadang field on Sundays," he remarked.
Aceh is among the Indonesian provinces that remain prone to drug crimes.
Attempts have been repeatedly made to smuggle crystal methamphetamine into Aceh from Malaysia for trade within and outside the province.
Local drug offenders have also been caught cultivating marijuana.
On March 10, at least 404.9 kilograms of drugs seized during drug raids over the past three months of 2021 were destroyed in the yard of the Aceh police headquarters in Banda Aceh.
On October 22, 2020, the BNN-Aceh Office destroyed 3.5 hectares of marijuana plantation on a mountain slope in Lamteuba area of Aceh Besar District.
Domestic and transnational drug dealers perceive Indonesia as a potential market owing to its huge population and millions of drug users.
Drug trade in the nation is valued at nearly Rp66 trillion.
People from all strata of society are falling prey to drugs in the country regardless of their socio-economic and professional backgrounds.
Over the past few decades, the Indonesian government has taken harsh punitive action against drug barons found smuggling and trading drugs in the country.
The National Narcotics Agency (BNN) has sought capital punishment for those involved in drug trade in the country.
Indonesian President Joko Widodo has also issued shoot-at-sight orders against drug kingpins.
However, this has failed to deter drug traffickers, who continue to treat Indonesia as a main market, prompting Indonesian law enforcers to step up vigil against them. Related news: Bali police apprehend three released drug convicts in Klungkung
Related news: Aceh police destroy 404.9 kg of seized drugs
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Translator: M.Haris SA, Rahmad Nasution
Editor: Fardah Assegaf
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