In 2020, the BNN had seized 1,152.2 kg of drugsJakarta (ANTARA) - The National Narcotics Agency (BNN) pointed to a rising trend of drug crimes in Indonesia, as it had confiscated 808.68 kilograms of drugs during the course of the last three months of 2021.
In comparison with last year, the seized drugs weighed in at 70.19 percent of the total weight of drugs confiscated by BNN officers during various drug raid operations.
"In 2020, the BNN had seized 1,152.2 kg of drugs," BNN Head Petruse Golose notified legislators during a plenary session at the parliament building here on Thursday.
Amid the COVID-19 pandemic situation, drug trade in Indonesia tends to increase as is apparent from the evidence of drug crimes that the BNN has seized until now, Golose noted.
On the basis of the confiscated evidence of crimes, the BNN officers seized 3,462.75 kg of marijuana during a series of drug raids conducted from January to March 2021, he remarked.
The amount of seized marijuana increased 143.64 percent, from 2,410 kg confiscated during the January-March 2020 period, Golose stated.
The BNN head surmised that the increase seizure of drugs might be triggered by the rising demand of drug users in communities.
"The rise in demand is perhaps triggered by the work-from-home policy. Many have got dragged into a situation of 'drug abuse from home,'" he pointed out.
At the meeting with members of the House of Representatives' Commission III overseeing legal affairs, Golose also sought their support for upgrading BNN's facilities.
The era of disruption has compelled the agency to improve its facilities, including those related to information technology, laboratory, database, and intelligence capability.
Domestic and transnational drug dealers perceive Indonesia as a potential market on account of its vast population and millions of drug users.
Drug trade in the nation is valued at nearly Rp66 trillion.
Data indicates that people from all societal levels are falling prey to drugs in the country irrespective 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 BNN has pressed for 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.
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Translator: Imam B, Rahmad Nasution
Editor: Fardah Assegaf
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