The confiscation of drugs worth Rp166 billion (around 10 million US dollars) may have prevented at least 690,442 people from falling victim to drug abuse and criminal activities, Jambi Police spokesperson Sen. Coms. Mulia Prianto told journalists here Friday.
The spokesperson elaborated that the arrested suspects comprised 1,108 men and 65 women, adding that the police would continue a crackdown on drug kingpins and drug traffickers across the province.
The Jambi police will simultaneously continue to implement a community empowerment program for locals to prevent them from engaging in drug misuse and addiction.
He added that the community empowerment program is carried out in areas such as Pandan Island and Lake Sipin in Jambi.
As reported earlier, drug lords continue to view Indonesia as a promising market due to its large population and millions of drug users.
The estimated value of drug trade in the country has reached about Rp66 trillion (around US$4.3 billion).
As a result, Indonesia has seen drug addiction spiral into a life-threatening problem for millions of citizens.
A survey conducted by the National Narcotics Agency (BNN) and the Indonesian Institute of Sciences (LIPI) has pegged the number of drug users in Indonesia at 3.4 million.
As per the survey, at least 180 out of every 10 thousand Indonesians, aged between 15 and 64 years, have fallen prey to drug addiction.
Translator: Tuyani, Rahmad Nasution
Editor: Aditya Eko Sigit Wicaksono
Copyright © ANTARA 2025
