The destroyed drugs were seized from 23 suspected drug traffickers taken into arrest during a series of raids conducted by BNN officers from January to May this year.
The suspects were apprehended in Jakarta, Bagan Siapi-Api in Riau Province, and East Aceh in Aceh Province, among others, BNN Head Coms. Gen. Petrus Reinhard Golose stated.
Over the course of the past five months of 2021, the BNN destroyed 1.5 tons of drugs that the agency's officers confiscated during various raids.
Most of the seized drugs belong to the Golden Triangle and Golden Crescent drug rings, he stated.
Indonesia remains under grave threat from drug dealers, as several individuals from its working-age population have gotten siphoned into a vicious circle.
The BNN report of some 50 Indonesians dying of drug use daily has failed to deter drug users in the country from consuming these banned substances.
The users of crystal methamphetamine, narcotics, marijuana, and other types of addictive drugs come from across communities and socio-economic and cultural backgrounds. In February 2021, for instance, the West Java Police's Propam had placed in detention 12 cops, including the chief of the Astanaanyar district police precinct, on grounds of allegedly consuming a narcotics drug.
Hence, Indonesia is perceived by both domestic and transnational drug dealers as a potential market due to its vast population and millions of drug users. The value of drug trade in the country is estimated to have reached nearly at least Rp66 trillion.
In response to the smuggling of illicit drugs by drug kingpins and traded in the country over the past few decades, the Indonesian government continues to apply harsh punitive action against them.
Indonesian President Joko Widodo had also issued shoot-at-sight orders against drug kingpins.
However, this has failed to deter drug traffickers, who continue to treat Indonesia as one of their key markets even, as Indonesian law enforcers continue their fight against them. Related news: Narcotics unit destroys drugs worth Rp1 bln
Related news: 80kg of drugs smuggled from Thailand seized in Aceh
EDITED BY INE
Translator: Genta TM, Rahmad Nasution
Editor: Suharto
Copyright © ANTARA 2021
