Sukabumi, W Java (ANTARA) - The Sukabumi city police allowed a detained drug offender to marry a young woman, only identified by her initials as MA, 17, on humanitarian grounds.

The drug offender, only identified by his initials as MRS, 18, delivered his marriage contract in a simple marriage ceremony, held at the Sukabumi city police precinct's At Taqwa Mosque early this week.

MRS, 18, was allowed to marry the woman on humanitarian grounds, First Inspector Saribuono, head of Sukabumi city police's detention and evidence of crime unit, noted in a statement that ANTARA quoted here, Wednesday.

The marriage ceremony was attended by representatives of the couple's families, an authorized person of Warudoyong Sub-district's Religious Affairs Office, as well as several police officers and detainees.

The married couple appeared happy though not for long, as they were prohibited from being united soon after the marriage ceremony, held in strict compliance to health protocols, concluded.

Before returning to his prison cell, MRS was allowed by police officers attending the marriage ceremony to have a conversation with MA, who was tearful to know her husband's condition.

The drug offender, MRS, can only unite with his wife after having completed his imprisonment term that will later be decided by the Sukabumi district court's panel of judges handling his drug case.

Related news: Over 118 tons of drugs seized in 2021: BNN

Indonesia remains under serious threat from domestic and transnational drug dealers, who view it as a potential market due to its huge population and millions of drug users.

Despite the ongoing spread of the novel coronavirus disease, which has prompted mobility restrictions and border closures by countries for curbing transmission, the trafficking of drugs has continued unabated.

On January 29, 2022, for instance, police officers in Mesuji District, Lampung Province, arrested three suspected drug couriers with 15 kg of crystal meth on the Trans Sumatra toll road.

According to the National Narcotics Agency (BNN), at least 50 Indonesians die of drug use every day. However, 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 different communities and distinct socio-economic and cultural backgrounds. Drug trade in the country is estimated to have reached nearly 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: Aditia AR, Rahmad Nasution
Editor: Suharto
Copyright © ANTARA 2022