The National Police Chief Asked To Take Serious Steps To Fight Drugs

Drug illustration (Photo: dock. Antara)

JAKARTA - National Police Chief General Pol. Listyo Sigit Prabowo was urged to take serious steps in eradicating criminal acts of illicit drug trafficking in Indonesian territory.

According to the Director of Indonesia Narcotic Watch (INW) Budi Tanjung, the joint operation of the Dittipidnarkoba Bareskrim Polri together with Customs and Excise and the Directorate General of Corrections (PAS) in Aceh, Riau and Bali which succeeded in thwarting the circulation of 428 kilograms (Kg) of crystal methamphetamine and 162,932 ecstasy pills need to be feared, because the number of evidence is increasing.

"This disclosure is a clear proof of how terrible drug crimes are in Indonesia. Therefore, INW urges the National Police Chief to immediately take extra serious steps," Budi said quoting Antara.

According to Budi, important steps must be taken by the National Police Chief, among others, to improve security technology. This is very important considering that the technology used by narcotics syndicates is always more advanced several steps from the technology owned by the Police.

"The National Police needs to update security technology so that it is no less sophisticated than the technology used by narcotics syndicates," he explained.

In addition, the quality and ability to master drug recruitment members' technology also needs to be improved along with the increasingly sophisticated technology used by narcotics syndicates.

"The quality of human resources for members of the Narcotics Unit throughout Indonesia must also be improved," added Budi.

Considering that Indonesia is still a potential market for drug trafficking, Budi continued, it is appropriate for the National Police to strengthen cooperation with a number of other police countries.

"Of course, the efforts of the National Police must receive strong support from other stakeholders. It is impossible for the National Police to work alone against drug crimes without the strong support of other relevant institutions," Budi emphasized.

Budi added that the success of the Directorate of Narcotics Crime, Bareskrim Polri, in dismantling a series of international network drug smuggling with 428 kg of crystal methamphetamine and 162,932 ecstasy pills and arresting 13 suspects into gifts at Bhayangkara's 77th Anniversary.

"The presentation of the ranks of the Narcotics Directorate of Bareskrim Polri deserves to be a gift for the National Police's birthday this year," said Budi.

On the other hand, Budi reminded that the success of the disclosure of drug cases with large amounts of evidence indicates that the level of drug trafficking in Indonesia is still very high.

Therefore, in order to narrow the space for drug entry into Indonesia, INW asked the National Police Chief General Listyo Sigit Prabowo to make a number of improvements and increase the function of the drug directorate.

Separately, the Head of the Criminal and Criminal Investigation Agency (Kabareskrim) of the National Police, Komjen Pol. Agus Andrianto said that the joint disclosure during June 2023 was a form of commitment from the National Police and other relevant stakeholders (Directorate General of Customs and Excise and the Directorate General of PAS) to continue to join hands in making efforts to prevent and overcome narcotics trafficking in the entire territory of Indonesia.

Agus said that illicit drug trafficking can target anywhere, entering Indonesia can be done by sea, land and air with a very fast shift in goods and the modus operandi of perpetrators who do not always adapt to the steps taken by officers in the field.

The three-star general gave a special note to Bali, which was found circulating 162,932 ecstasy pills, asking the Director of Narcotics Crimes at the National Police Criminal Investigation Agency to supervise it.

"The role of colleagues in providing information to the public, especially in Bali, is a bit vulnerable, if there is a large enough circulation of ecstasy, please the Director of Drugs to really take preventive measures so that people who have not become addicts do not become infected," said Agus.