Some 26 of the 133 vulnerable areas have reached "dangerous level" while 107 others are placed in the "alert" category, BNN-Jakarta Office Head Brig. Gen. Nurhadi Yuwono remarked.
Yuwono, however, did not provide the names of Jakarta's areas that remain prone to drug trafficking activities, according to a press statement published here, Wednesday (June 27).
He said if drug trafficking operations in Jakarta could not be foiled, then the number of vulnerable areas in the metropolitan city would likely continue to rise due to being potentially used by drug rings as an entry point.
In mapping the prevalence of drug abuse in Indonesia, the BNN, National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN), and Statistics Indonesia (BPS) conducted a joint survey in 2023.
The survey result showed that most respondents who had consumed or used drugs for a year were found in urban rather than rural areas, he stated.
The survey also revealed that the number of drug users, who belonged to the age groups of 15-24 and 50-64 years, tended to increase as compared to other age groups, Yuwono remarked.
As reported earlier, domestic and transnational drug dealers consider Indonesia to be a potential market due to its vast population and widespread drug use.
The value of drug trade in the country is estimated to have reached nearly Rp66 trillion (around US$4.2 billion), with the number of drug trafficking cases continuing to rise.
A joint survey conducted by the National Narcotics Agency (BNN) and the Indonesian Institute of Sciences (LIPI) in 2019 pegged the number of drug users in Indonesia at over 3.4 million.
The survey conducted in 34 provinces indicated that about 180 out of every 10 thousand Indonesians in the age group of 15 to 64 years were using drugs.
Those using crystal methamphetamine, narcotics, marijuana, and other addictive drugs can belong to any community and socioeconomic and cultural background.
The latest drug case that attracts public attention is connected to Virgoun Tambunan Putra, a famous musician who was arrested along with a woman, identified as PA, for alleged drug abuse at his rented room in South Jakarta early on June 20.
The West Jakarta police, early this week, announced that the person who allegedly supplied crystal methamphetamine to Virgoun had been arrested.
Related news: Indonesia's BNN destroys over 9 kg drugs, including meth sent from US
Related news: Remain alert against drug syndicates, BNN tells migrant workers
Translator: Siti N, Rahmad Nasution
Editor: Tia Mutiasari
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