VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

In less than two months, the South Jakarta Metropolitan Police's anti-drug squad has apprehended seven suspected drug dealers who may belong to big syndicates around South Jakarta and Bogor, West Java.

The suspects supplied marijuana and crystal methamphetamine to those who ordered the illicit drug packages from their drug rings, Head of the South Jakarta Metropolitan Police's Narcotics Department Adjunct Sen. Coms. Vivick Tjangkung said Thursday.

Several dealers of marijuana, arrested on January 13, 2020, may belong to an Aceh drug ring because the way they packed the drug was similar to that of the Aceh drug ring.

Regarding the trafficking activities of crystal meth, many dealers committed their criminal acts in Tebet's area, Tjangkung said.

The police recently confiscated 5.5 kg of marijuana from four suspects only identified by their initials SR, FA, AS, and FS alias Feby. The police also seized 69.02 grams of crystal meth from five suspects -- IKC, HHA alias Helmi, A alias Adong, OK, and RA.

The average ages of those suspected drug dealers were between 21 and 40 years. They were jobless, and had been regularly involved in the drug trade, he added.

Indonesia remains under serious threat from drug dealers, as several individuals from its working-age population have been trapped in a vicious circle.

The National Narcotics Agency's (BNN's) report that some 50 Indonesians die of drug use every day has not yet deterred drug users in the country from consuming these banned substances.

The users of crystal methamphetamine, narcotics, marijuana, and other types of addictive drugs are from any community and from distinct socio-economic and cultural backgrounds.

Among the drug users are also entertainers. Over the past three years, at least 12 entertainers have been apprehended for drug offences. They are Ammar Zoni, Rio Reifan, Roro Fitria, Fachri Albar, Fariz RM, Jennifer Dunn, Steve Emmanuel, Zul Zivilia, Jefri Nichol, Tri Retno Prayudati alias Nunung Srimulat, Nanie Darham, and Lucinta Luna.

Therefore, Indonesia is perceived by both domestic and transnational drug dealers as a potential market due to its huge population and millions of drug users. The value of the drug trade in the country is estimated to have reached nearly least Rp66 trillion.(ANTARA)