Jakarta (ANTARA) - Deputy for eradication at the National Narcotics Agency (BNN), I Wayan Sugiri, informed on Thursday that the agency has detected the entry of 93 new types of narcotics originating from Mexico into Indonesia.

"Most of the 93 new psychoactive substances (NPS) or new types of narcotics came from Mexico by mixing various types of narcotics depending on the ingredients, then being sent to Indonesia," Sugiri informed after attending a BNN event in Jakarta on Thursday.

According to him, of the 93 new types of narcotics, 90 have been identified and are regulated by the Minister of Health's regulations number 30 and 31 of 2023. Meanwhile, the three other types of narcotics are still being researched.

However, he did not reveal from which border the illicit goods entered Indonesia. He said that he will prepare a number of steps to anticipate the circulation of the new type of narcotics, including optimizing the function of narcotics laboratories spread across Indonesia.

"Until 2023, BNN RI has one narcotics laboratory center in Lido, West Java, and four other narcotics laboratories in Deli Serdang, North Sumatra; Baddoka, South Sulawesi; Tanah Merah, East Kalimantan; and Bangkalan, East Java," Sugiri informed.

He added that the optimization of the narcotics laboratory would be effective in detecting early cases of narcotics abuse, including identifying new types of narcotics users.

Based on data collected from the BNN's narcotics laboratory center in 2023, a total of 22,183 samples were tested, out of which 21,531 samples came out positive for narcotics, 9 samples for psychotropics, and 5 samples for precursors, while 638 other samples tested negative.

Meanwhile, the agency collaborated with a number of parties and strengthened cooperation in the use of the Early Warning System (EWS) to detect narcotics trafficking early.

Related news: Indonesian customs confiscates 5.6 tons of drugs in 2023
Related news: BNN inaugurates Indonesia's first anti-narcotics museum
Related news: BNN meets Colombian ART to discuss handling illegal plants








Translator: Moch Mardiansyah A, Resinta Sulistiyandari
Editor: Azis Kurmala
Copyright © ANTARA 2023