VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

National Police chief candidate Com.Gen.Listyo Sigit Prabowo must continue Indonesia's war on drugs by intensifying law enforcement against domestic and trans-national rings, which remain a threat to the entire nation, a legislator said.

"I have appealed to him to keep focusing on handling the drug crimes," said Andi Rio Idris Padjalangi, a member of Commission III of the House of Representatives (DPR), which oversees legal affairs, here on Wednesday.

Speaking to journalists on the sidelines of the national police chief candidate's fit-and-proper test at the parliament building, Padjalangi said the Indonesian police's performance in the war on drugs has been remarkable.

The police have successfully uncovered several big drug-trafficking cases and seized large quantities of illegal drugs from suspects, he noted.

However, the remarkable performance under Listyo Sigit Prabowo's leadership as the chief of National Police's Criminal Investigation Directorate in fighting drug lords and offenders can still be improved, he added.

To this end, the National Police needs to maintain good synergy with the National Narcotics Agency (BNN) and other related agencies as well as continue improving infrastructure and equipment needed for the fight against drug crimes, Padjalangi said.

The Golkar Party politician also suggested that Prabowo keep improving the quality of human resources amid the fact that domestic and trans-national drug lords have intensified the use of digital technology for their crimes.

President Joko Widodo has nominated Com.Gen. Listyo Sigit Purnomo as the successor to National Police chief, General Idham Azis, who will retire on February 1, 2021.

Domestic and trans-national drug dealers perceive Indonesia as a potential market owing to its vast population and millions of drug users. Drug trade in the nation is valued at nearly Rp66 trillion.

People from all strata of society are falling prey to drugs in the country, regardless of their socio-economic and professional backgrounds.

The Indonesian government has taken harsh punitive action against drug kingpins found smuggling and trading drugs in the country over the past few decades.

BNN chief Com.Gen.Heru Winarko has sought capital punishment for those involved in drug trade in the country.

Indonesian President Joko Widodo has also issued shoot-at-sight orders against drug kingpins.

However, this has failed to deter drug traffickers, who continue to treat Indonesia as a main market, prompting Indonesian law enforcers to tighten vigilance against them. (Antaranews)