The arrested suspects belonged to inter-provincial drug syndicates, South Sumatra Police spokesperson Senior Commissioner Supriadi said in a statement that ANTARA received in Palembang on Tuesday.
Drug raids conducted by South Sumatra police in the first week of February also resulted in the arrests of seven drug users and the seizure of 16.7 kg of crystal methamphetamine, he informed.
Police also confiscated 239 grams of dried marijuana, 10 cannabis plants, and 11.5 ecstasy pills from the suspects, he said.
The successful anti-drug operations are estimated to have saved more than 100 thousand people from drug abuse and addiction, Supriadi added.
Indonesia remains under serious threat from domestic and transnational drug dealers, who consider it a potential market due to its huge population and millions of drug users.
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On January 29, 2022, police officers in Mesuji district, Lampung province, arrested three suspected drug couriers who were found transporting 15 kg of crystal methamphetamine through the Trans Sumatra toll road.
According to the National Narcotics Agency (BNN), at least 50 Indonesians die of drug use every day. The statistic has failed to deter drug users in the country.
Users of crystal methamphetamine, narcotics, marijuana, and other types of addictive drugs come from any community and distinct socio-economic and cultural backgrounds. The drug trade in the country is estimated to have reached nearly least Rp66 trillion.
The Indonesian government has continued to apply harsh punitive action against kingpins found smuggling and trading drugs over the past few decades.
Indonesian President Joko Widodo has also issued shoot-at-sight orders against drug kingpins.
However, this has failed to discourage drug traffickers, and they have continued to treat Indonesia as one of their main markets even as Indonesian law enforcers have kept the fight going against them.
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Translator: Yudi A, Rahmad Nasution
Editor: Azis Kurmala
Copyright © ANTARA 2022
