"We stop illicit drugs in the New Year's Eve celebrations in Jakarta," Director of Jakarta Police's Narcotics Division Senior Commissioner Mukti Juharsa tweeted on his Instagram account @Narkoba_Metro on Monday.
To this end, Juharsa spoke of having instructed his anti-drug squad personnel to intensify surveillance efforts to prevent the misuse of illicit drugs during the year-end celebrations.
"We must take precautionary measures this December. We must clean up Jakarta from illicit drugs," he noted while adding that instances of drug misuse and illicit trade tended to increase in December.
The Jakarta Police recently thwarted an attempt by three drug mules to transport 112 kg of dried marijuana that would be traded for the New Year's Eve celebrations.
The anti-drug squad personnel arrested the suspects, only identified by their initials RP (17), RS (19), and RD (18), in Mandailing Natal District, North Sumatra Province, on Oct 22, 2022.
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 Rp66 trillion.
On December 1, 2022, for instance, two drug mules' attempt to transport some 455 grams of crystal methamphetamine that they had stashed in their anus during a flight from Aceh Province to Java Island could be foiled.
The suspects, only identified by their initials as ZK, 52, and MD, 32, were nabbed by police officers at the Soekarno Hatta International Airport's Terminal 3, Banten Police Spokesperson Sen. Coms. Shinto Silitonga stated.
The cops seized 455 grams of crystal meth from ZK, a resident of Sawang Sub-district in North Aceh District, and MD, a resident of Mila Sub-district in Pidie District, he remarked.
In response to the smuggling of illicit drugs by drug kingpins over the past few decades, the Indonesian government has continued to apply harsh punitive action against them.
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Translator: Fianda SR, Rahmad Nasution
Editor: Azis Kurmala
Copyright © ANTARA 2022
