INDONESIA STEPS UP WAR ON DRUGS by Fardah

Jakarta, March 7, 2018 (Antara) - The Indonesian Government is intensifying its war on drugs as the country has been flooded with illicit drugs, particularly crystal methamphetamine, smuggled mostly from China.

         In July 2017, the then chief of the National Narcotic Agency Commissioner General Budi Waseso had revealed that based on information that he had received from the authorities in China, some 250 tons of crystal methamphetamine and 1,097.6 tons of drug precursors had been smuggled into Indonesia from China in 2016.

        The Indonesian authorities had managed to seize only some 3.4 tons of crystal methamphetamine in 2016, some 2.1 tons in 2017, and 2.932 tons during the January-February 2018 period.

          "It indicates that Indonesia is being flooded with illicit drugs. I am saddened to see that smuggling of crystal methamphetamine into Indonesia is occurring on such a massive scale," Finance Minister Sri Mulyani noted on Feb 23, 2018, following the success in foiling an attempt by four Chinese nationals to smuggle 1.6 tons of methamphetamine aboard a Singaporean-flagged boat.

          On Feb 7, 2018, the Indonesian Navy had seized MV Sunrise Glory and four Taiwanese crew members for smuggling one ton of crystal methamphetamine into Indonesia. On Feb 20, four Chinese nationals were arrested in the waters of Riau Islands, which share a maritime border with Singapore, for attempting to smuggle 1.6 tons of crystal meth into Indonesia aboard a Singapore-flagged boat.

         As drugs syndicates attempt to flood Indonesia, President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) installed police Inspector General Heru Winarko as the new chief of BNN to succeed Waseso, who was entering retirement age, on March 1, 2018.

         Following his inauguration as BNN chief, Winarko pledged that he would aim his gun directly at a number of big drug bosses in the country.

INDONESIA THWARTS SEVERAL ATTEMPTS TO SMUGGLE TONS OF METH by Fardah

Jakarta, Feb 23, 2018 (Antara) - Indonesia has foiled several attempts to smuggle tons of illicit drugs, particularly crystal methamphetamine, into the country early this year, mostly from China. 
   An attempt to smuggle some 150 tons of illicit drugs into Indonesia from China was thwarted by the Government of Timor Leste when the boat arrived in Dili after making a transit in Singapore, Muhammad Nur, head of the East Nusa Tenggara (NTT) Narcotic Office, stated in Kupang, NTT, in January 2018.  
     On February 7, 2018, the Indonesian Navy had seized MV Sunrise Glory and four Taiwanese crew members for smuggling one ton of crystal methamphetamine into Indonesia.

         The vessel, disguised as a fishing boat, was seized by Indonesia's warship Sigurot 864 in the Philip Channel, near the islands off Batam, in the maritime border between Indonesia and Singapore.

          The methamphetamine was concealed in 41 rice sacks in the lower deck of the boat.

           The Indonesian Navy had first spotted a Singaporean-flagged boat during a routine patrol of the maritime border between Indonesia and Singapore. Out of suspicion, the Navy later decided to stop the vessel.
     Deputy Navy Chief Vice Admiral Achmad Taufiqoerrochman said that the navy was acting on a tip-off from Indonesia's National Narcotics Agency (BNN), which has been tracking the suspects since December last year.

        The Sunrise Glory serving Malaysia-Taiwan route, is believed to have approached Indonesian waters to smuggle illegal drugs in Indonesia, including through transshipment in Indonesian water borders, for several times.

NO EXECUTIONS OF DRUGS CONVICTS IN 2017, BUT "SHOOT-AT-SIGHT" UP by Fardah

Jakarta, Jan 13, 2018 (Antara) - Indonesia is among the few countries that have the harshest drug laws in the world.

        In 2015, the country had executed 14 drug convicts, mostly foreigners, and four others in July 2016.

         In 2017, there were no executions of drug convicts, but the war on drugs continues, and is even intensified, with this time on the streets.

         The National Anti-Narcotics Agency (BNN) has revealed that in 2017, its officers had shot dead as many as 79 suspects of illegal drug cases for resisting arrests.

        According to BNN Chief Commissioner General Budi Waseso, the agency discovered 46,537 drug cases and 27 money laundering cases from narcotics crimes from January to December last year.

         "Of the total cases, we have detained 58,365 suspects in narcotics cases and 34 suspects in money laundering cases," Budi Waseso, or Buwas as he popularly known, stated.

         Such an achievement shows the authority's seriousness in fighting drug crimes. It has also proved that "shoot-at-sight" move for perpetrators of drug crimes is not a joke but the agency's legal commitment to be hard and stern against drugs syndicates.

        According to the data of the BNN, the police, and customs office, the authorities have seized evidences, including marijuana, amounting to 151,22 tons, and 2,940,748 ecstasy pills, during Jan to Dec period.

        "In drug-related money laundering cases, we have evidences of cars, properties, jewelry, cash, and Rp105 billion (US$7.75 million) in bank accounts," Buwas revealed.

INDONESIA HAS NO HESITATION TO SHOOT DOWN FOREIGN DRUG TRAFFICKERS by Fardah

Jakarta, July 25, 2017 (Antara) - Illicit drugs could be worse than terrorism as more Indonesians, particularly young people, had died because of drug abuse, than terrorism.

         Some six million Indonesians are reported to be drug users, and 30 to 40 people, mostly youths, die every day because of narcotics consumption.   
    President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) has declared that the nation was in a state of drug emergency and ordered for firm action against narcotic drug traffickers to save the younger generation.

         "Do not give them any tolerance, because we are now under an emergency situation with regard to narcotic drugs," the president said on Friday (July 21).

         Indonesia is one of the few countries to have imposed the harshest drug laws in the world. Since 2015, 18 drug convicts have been executed. But it seems that the measure does not stop there.

         He remarked that the police and TNI (military) have also taken firm actions against those involved in drug abuse cases.  
    "Now Polri (police) and TNI have indeed been firm, especially while dealing with foreign drug traffickers entering the country. They will just shoot them if they defy arrest," he warned.

         Chief of the Indonesian Defense Forces (TNI) General Gatot Nurmantyo has warned that drugs are no less dangerous than terrorism threat to the survival of the nation.

         "We need to always be on guard against the potential threats of both terrorism and drugs. Unfortunately, we tend to see only terrorism as a big threat, while the damage caused by drugs has also been widespread," the general said on July 14, 2017.

INDONESIA IMPOSES HARSHER MEASURES AGAINST DRUG SMUGGLERS by Fardah

Jakarta, July 14, 2017 (Antara) - The Indonesian police shot dead a major drug trafficker for resisting arrest during a raid that successfully foiled an attempt to smuggle one ton crystal methamphetamine from China in Serang, Banten, on July 12, 2017.

          Lin Ming Hui, a Taiwanese citizen killed by the Indonesian police, was believed to have controlled the smuggling of the narcotics.
          The police detained two suspects -- Chen Wei Cyuan and Liao Guan You -- while Hsu Yung Li escaped arrest. The four smugglers are Taiwanese.
          The operation, conducted jointly by the Jakarta and Depok Police, was successful owing to cooperation between the Indonesian and Taiwanese Police, according to Inspector General M. Iriawan, chief of the Jakarta Metro Jaya Police.
          The illicit drug, smuggled into Indonesia aboard a boat, was seized from the Mandalika Anyer Hotel in Serang.
          "This was the result of a field investigation in Jakarta. We then traced it, thanks to a tip-off from the Police of Taiwan," he noted.
          Chief of the Indonesian Police General Tito Karnavian has lauded the joint team of the Jakarta and Depok Police for successfully foiling the smuggling attempt.
          Karnavian has instructed his personnel to continue the fight against illicit drugs even if they have to shoot dead drug traffickers.
          "Continue. If the traffickers resist, finish (them)," he noted.

DRUGS ABUSE POSES REAL THREAT TO INDONESIA by Fardah

Jakarta, March 21, 2017 (Antara) - Indonesia considers drug abuse to pose a real threat to the nation, as the country has about four million drug users.

          According to the National Narcotics Agency (BNN), drug abuse is responsible for the deaths of 33 Indonesians, mostly young men, every day.

          Indonesia is one of the few countries to have imposed the harshest drug laws in the world. The country executed 14 drug convicts in 2015 and four last year.    
     President Joko Widodo, who has declared that Indonesia was in a drug emergency, vowed that he would not grant clemency to drug convicts, despite protests from several countries and parties at home.

           But the capital punishment does not stop drug trafficking in Indonesia, which has become a target market of some 70 international drug syndicates from 11 countries, with China as the major supplier, followed by Malaysia and Nigeria.

           In 2015, police arrested 50,178 suspects in 40,253 drug-related cases and confiscated 23.2 tons of marijuana, more than 1 million ecstasy pills, and 2.3 tons of crystal methamphetamine.

           Last year, BNN dealt with 807 illicit drug cases across Indonesia, with a total of 1,238 people arrested, including 21 foreigners. The agency also confiscated 6.2 tons of dried hashish, 1.16 tons of methamphetamine, and 765 thousand ecstasy pills.

WILL INDONESIA APPLY PHILIPPINES-STYLE METHODS IN ITS WAR AGAINST DRUGS? --- By Fardah

Jakarta, Oct 27, 2016 (Antara) - Reports about attempts to smuggle drugs from China and neighboring Malaysia continue to surface despite the Indonesian government's all out war against drugs. 
   Indonesia's National Narcotics Agency (BNN) recently dismantled an international drugs distribution network by seizing 12,488 grams of crystal methamphetamine that had been allegedly smuggled from Malaysia.

        The authorities thwarted another attempt to smuggle in drugs in mid-August when a Chinese national was found carrying 990 grams of contraband.

         During 2015, police arrested 50,178 suspects in 40,253 drug-related cases and confiscated 23.2 tons of marijuana, more than one million ecstasy pills and 2.3 tons of crystal methamphetamine.

        There were 5.9 million drug users in the country in 2015, most of them teenagers, according to the BNN.

        Indonesia is among the few countries that have the harshest drug laws in the world. It executed 14 drug convicts, mostly foreigners, in 2015, and four others in July 2016.

        President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) emphasized that notwithstanding protests by several countries and parties at home, he would not grant clemency to drug convicts, seen as responsible for the death of nearly 50 Indonesians, mostly young men, every day.

        In February this year, he had called on all stakeholders to declare a war against drug abuse and drug trafficking and ordered that every point of entrance - airports, seaports and border areas - must be closed to drug smugglers.

JOIN HAND IN REALIZING DRUG-FREE ASEAN by Fardah

           Jakarta, Sept 8, 2016 (Antara) - A drug-free ASEAN by 2015 might deem a failure, but it does not mean that the ASEAN member countries have abandoned the dream. The ASEAN countries, in fact, have determined to pursue the goal.

         It was at the 31st ASEAN Ministerial Meeting in July 1998, when ASEAN foreign ministers signed the Joint Declaration for a Drug-Free ASEAN by 2020 that affirmed the Association¿s commitment to eradicate illicit drug production, processing, trafficking and abuse by the year 2020 in ASEAN.

           And two years later, at the 33rd ASEANMinisterial Meeting in July 2000, the governments agreed to advance the target year for realizing a Drug-Free ASEAN to 2015. 
     In 2015, many ASEAN countries were still struggling to deal with the drug abuse and trafficking that have many young people and could threaten the regional security and stability due to the transnational crimes.

         In Indonesia, for instance, drug abuse is responsible for the deaths of 50 Indonesians, mostly youngmen, every day.

          Indonesia is one of the few countries to have imposed the harshest drug laws in the world. And President Joko Widodo had emphasized that he would not grant clemency to drug convicts, , despite protests from several countries and parties at home.  The country executed 14 drug convicts last year, and four this year.    
   Indonesia is not the only ASEAN member countries that have declared a war on illicit drug abuse and offences.

PREVENTING MIGRANT WORKERS FROM BECOMING DRUG COURIERS by Fardah

Jakarta, Aug 13, 2016 (Antara) - Last year, the South China Morning Post had reported that Hong Kong's triad was targeting Indonesian migrant workers to smuggle drugs into the workers' own country.

         Organized crime gangs from Hong Kong and southern China had long been key players in Indonesia's illicit drugs market, but recent cases indicate that they have been adopting a diverse range of tactics.

         According to domestic helpers' rights groups, maids could be an easy prey for drug rings looking for couriers, the media wrote.    
    The migrant workers were given money for carrying illicit drugs to Indonesia. These were usually concealed in their luggage, under their clothes or inside their shoes. Some packages were sent ahead by the syndicates, and recruited migrant workers were told to collect them upon their arrival in Jakarta.

         For the past several years, many major drug smuggling attempts into Indonesia had originated from China, Hong Kong or Malaysia.  
    Currently, as many as 38 Indonesian workers are in jail in Hong Kong in drug related cases.

         To prevent more migrant workers from falling into the trap of drug mafia, Chief of the National Narcotic Agency (BNN) Commissioner General Budi Waseso visited Hong Kong from August 11 to 13, 2016.

         Waseso spoke to a gathering of Indonesian migrant workers in Hong Kong and warned them not to be fooled by drug traffickers.

         "You are here to earn a better income, and make a better life for your families in Indonesia. You have traveled so far to this country, so now do not end up as drug couriers and going to prison. Prison might not be that bad, but what about capital punishment?" he asked the workers.

         He reminded the workers, mostly women, to not be fooled by strangers, especially those from Pakistan and Western Africa.

         "They are very good at flattery. After flattering you, they will give you a lot of money and goods, with the final aim to turn you into drug couriers. The destination is Indonesia, and drugs come from various countries, including the Middle East. Therefore, Indonesia is now in a state of emergency due to drugs," he told the workers.     
    He also reminded them not to use and buy drugs, and instead send their money to their children and parents in their hometowns.

         During his stay in Hong Kong, Waseso held a meeting with Commissioner of Drug Bureau of Hong Kong, Stephen Lo, to discuss anti-drug cooperation.    

ONLY FOUR CONVICTS EXECUTED IN THIRD WAVE OF EXECUTIONS by Fardah

Jakarta, July 29, 2016 (Antara) - Only four death row inmates convicted for drug trafficking were finally executed out of the 14 announced earlier by the Indonesian authorities.

         The four were drug kingpin Freddy Budiman of Indonesia, Humprey Ejike and Michael Titus of Nigeria, as well as Seck Osmane, a Nigerian national but holding a Senegalese passport.

         The convicts faced the firing squads at the Tunggal Panaluan shooting range in Nusakambangan Island off Central Java's southern coast at 12:46 a.m. local time on July 29.

         Junior Attorney General for General Crimes Noor Rachmad did not offer any explanation on why only four out of the 10 were executed.

         "(The decision was made) following a comprehensive study," he responded briefly.

         Rachmad further remarked that the four had allegedly committed grave crimes, and the next wave of executions of the other death row inmates would be made public later on.

         "Right now, we do not know whether the remaining death row inmates have appealed for clemency. Based on the result of our study with the existing team, only four would be executed for the time being. There are several aspects we have to take into account," he explained.

         Attorney General H.M. Prasetyo had stated earlier that the 14 drug convicts on death row would face the firing squad.  

THIRD WAVE OF EXECUTIONS OF DRUG TRAFFICKERS IMMINENT by Fardah

Jakarta, July 27, 2016 (Antara)- Despite the Indonesian media lately giving greater coverage to the planned cabinet reshuffle, but it does not mean there are no activities hinting that the third wave of executions would be conducted soon. 
    Most of the relevant ministers, who were ordered by the president to remain in Jakarta allegedly in connection with the cabinet reshuffle, declined to give further information on the execution plan.

         However, according to the media, as many as 14 death row inmates, all drug convicts, have been placed in an isolation cell at the Batu prison on the island of Nusakambangan, off this southern Central Java coastal town.

        The 14 prisoners were moved to the isolation cell in the evening of July 25 with the help of the personnel of the Police's Mobile Brigade.

        "The 14 included two from the Pasir Putih prison, another two from the Kembang Kuning prison, one from the Besi prison, and nine from the Batu prison," reliable sources said in response to Antara's questions.

        The isolation cell is a new structure behind the Batu prison building.

        According to the source, the prisoners being moved to the isolation cell hinted that the executions were imminent.      

INDONESIAN AG SET TO CARRY OUT THIRD WAVE OF EXECUTIONS by Fardah

     Jakarta, July 16, 2016 (Antara) - Any move to execute convicts on the death row continues to draw strong criticism since many NGOs strongly oppose and criticize such an approach.

         Last year, the Indonesian government was flooded with criticisms from within the country as well as by other nations for having executed 14 drug convicts on death row.

         Notwithstanding the lack of popular support, Attorney General HM Prasetyo has decided not to flinch this year, and instead indicated that the third wave of executions would be carried out soon.

         "You see the preparations that we made yesterday. I have even seen the activities in Nusakambangan where arrangements are being made to carry out the executions," Prasetyo said on July 15.

         Like last year, the prisoners would be brought to Nusakambangan to face executions, he said.

         Nusakambangan is an island off Cilacap, southern coast of Central Java, notorious for its exile prison where hard core criminals are housed.

         "The Central Java police has also tightened security. They have agreed to coordinate with us," Prasetyo said.

         He declined to disclose the names of death row inmates who will be facing the firing squads, but confirmed that there would be more than two convicts, and will include Indonesian, Nigerian and Zimbabwe citizens.

         The attorney general said he would later inform the embassies of the convicts concerned through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

REGULAR INTERACTION WITH CHILDREN, YOUTH KEY TO FIGHTING DRUG MENACE by Fardah

Jakarta, June 27, 2016 (Antara) - Most parents nowadays are too busy earning a living that they hardly find the time to lend an ear to their children and the youth, in particular.

         Such a situation is quite ironic as at this age, children and youth need people whom they could speak to and someone who can listen to their problems and give them advise, guidance, or comfort.

         If the parents often fail to give time to their children, it is likely that they might go astray or find someone else or even strangers who are willing to listen to them.

         Therefore, while commemorating International Day Against Drug Abuse on June 26, the United Nations (UN) chose the theme "Listen First" as it is believed that being heedful to children and youth is the first step to helping them grow healthy and safe.

         "Listen First" is an initiative to amass support for preventing the use of drugs that is based on science and is thus an effective investment to ensure the well-being of children and youth as well as their families and communities.

         The World Drug Report 2016 of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime revealed an increase in the number of drug users from 27 to 29 million people aged 15-64 years, and the disastrous resurgence of heroin in some regions.

         It is the first time that International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking is being observed since the adoption of the Sustainable Development Goals last year.

         Goal 3 calls on countries to strengthen the prevention and treatment of narcotic drug abuse, end AIDS, and combat hepatitis.

INDONESIA LIKELY TO CARRY OUT THIRD WAVE OF EXECUTIONS THIS YEAR by Fardah

Jakarta, May 13, 2016 (Antara) - Drug trafficking has become Enemy Number One of Indonesia, as some 30 to 50 people, mostly young men, die of drug abuse daily in the country.

         The Indonesian government has declared an all-out war against drug crimes and has imposed the severest punishment of death sentence against drug offenders.

        Recently, Attorney General H.M. Prasetyo hinted that executions of drug traffickers would resume once his office is through with completing statistics of death-row inmates.   
  He emphasized that the third wave of executions will be carried out in the near future, but did not reveal the number of death row inmates on the list.

        "We have not compiled the final number," Prasetyo noted, adding that drug offenders will be the ones who will be executed.

        He declined to disclose the names of death row inmates who will be facing the firing squads, but he confirmed that inmate Freddy Budiman, a drug kingpin, will be among the convicts scheduled to die in this third wave of executions this year.

INDONESIA DECLARES WAR ON DRUGS, NEEDS TO PLUG SMUGGLING FROM MALAYSIA By Fardah

Jakarta, April 16, 2016 (Antara) - The Indonesian government has declared a war against drugs and the authorities have intensified security measures to thwart illicit drug smuggling into the country.  
    In the latest success, the Indonesian army personnel safeguarding the country's border with Malaysia managed to foil an attempt to smuggle two kilograms of crystal methamphetamine into the Panga Bintawa of Entikong check-point area, West Kalimantan Province, on April 13, 2016.

         "The Indonesian border security task force personnel have captured two suspects," the Chief of Rem 121/ABW military command Brig. Gen. Widodo Iryansyah said on April 14. 
    The suspects, identified as Ewd, 26, and Fb, 41, were questioned and confessed that the two kilograms of the crystal meth caught from them was smuggled from Tebedu, Malaysia, into Entikong.

        Furthermore, the Indonesian police disclosed that some 800 kilograms (kg) of crystal methamphetamine had been smuggled from Malaysia into Indonesia since 2012 by an international drug syndicate involving two Indonesian prisoners.

         Prisoner Ricky Gunawan alias Ricky Bom-bom is lodged in the Cipinang Penitentiary in East Jakarta, while Anciong alias Karun is lodged in the Tanjung Gusta Penitentiary in Medan, North Sumatra.   

INDONESIAN AUTHORITIES UNCOVER MAJOR DRUG RACKET RUN FROM PRISON CELLS by Fardah

   Jakarta, April 9, 2016 (Antara) - Some 75 percent of drug distribution was run by several inmates from prison cells, information from Indonesia's National Narcotic Agency (BNN) has revealed.

        The most notorious inmate running his business from the country's jail cell is death row convict Freddy Budiman, who is known as the drug kingpin. 
   Freddy was sentenced to death in 2013 for importing ecstasy from Shenzhen, China, after police officers raided a truck containing 1.4 million such pills in Jakarta.

        From the Nusakambangan prison, he had operated the drug trafficking business in three countries, the Netherlands, Pakistan and Indonesia, according to Merdeka.com.

         In addition to the Freddy case, some 800 kilograms (kg) of crystal methamphetamine had been smuggled from Malaysia into Indonesia since 2012 by an international drug syndicate involving two Indonesian prisoners, according to the police.

         The prisoners are Ricky Gunawan alias Ricky Bom-bom of the Cipinang Penitentiary in East Jakarta, and Anciong alias Karun of the Tanjung Gusta Penitentiary in Medan, North Sumatra Police.   

INDONESIA'S ANTI-DRUGS DRIVE ALSO TARGETS MILITARY, POLICE, STATE PERSONNEL by Fardah

Jakarta, March 20, 2016 (Antara) - Military, police officers and civil servants have been targeted in a new anti-drugs strategy being launched throughout Indonesia lately.           The move comes after  Ogan Ilir District Head Ahmad Wazir Nofiadi was arrested recently for alleged drug possession.          The National Narcotics Agency (BNN) is currently targeting state officials using illicit drugs, Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal and Security Affairs Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan stated in  Bandung, West Java, recently.          Drug abuse in Indonesia is worse than terrorism as 30 to 50 people die every day due to drugs, and the total number of drug users reaches 5.9 million, according to the minister.           Vice President Jusuf Kalla recently said he agrees with the idea of state officials, including members of the House of Representatives, being made to undergo urine drug tests .          "It's a good idea. I agree. Aren't we now fighting against narcotic drugs?" he said.          Kalla said he is ready to undergo the test himself to set an example for other state officials to follow.

INDONESIA HIGHTENS ZERO-TOLERANCE STANCE ON DRUGS Fardah

  Jakarta, March 19, 2016 (Antara) - Drug abuse, which is spiraling out control, has put Indonesia in a state of emergency, the Indonesian government has repeatedly said.

           Some 30 to 50 people die daily from drug abuse, Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal and Security Affairs Luhut Binsar Panjaitan revealed in Bandung, West Java March 18.

          "Drug abuse in Indonesia is worse than terrorism," the minister said, adding that the number of drug users has reached 5.9 million in the country.

         The country has 4.5 million drug addicts who need rehabilitation. Some 1.2 million drug addicts are in such dire straits that even rehabilitation is no longer an option for them.

          Nearly 75 percent of those convicted for drug trafficking still manage their businesses from jails, he affirmed.

          Despite the government's serious fight against illicit drugs, the number of drug-related cases had increased 13 percent in 2015 compared to the previous year.

         "This is recorded as the highest surge in the last five years. The increase in methamphetamine usage reached 350 percent and ecstasy 280 percent, which is very dangerous," Pandjaitan pointed out.

          Indonesia is one of the few countries that have the harshest drug laws in the world.

          In 2015, the Attorney General's Office had executed 14 death row inmates.

EVERY STAKEHOLDER NEEDS TO JOIN FIGHT AGAINST DRUG ABUSE by Fardah

Jakarta, Feb 27, 2016 (Antara) - President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) has called on every stakeholder to declare war against drug abuse and trafficking.Labels          Drug abuse tops the list of major problems being faced by Indonesia, he stated while chairing a limited cabinet meeting on drug eradication and rehabilitation program for victims of drug abuse, on February 24.      He urged the nation to seriously discuss issues related to the fight against the illicit circulation of drugs and the rehabilitation of drug addicts.    The number of drug users in the country in 2015 was about 5.9 million, according to data of the National Anti-Narcotic Agency (BNN).         "I want the drug eradication efforts to be stepped up and carried out in a bolder and `crazier' way, comprehensively, and in integrated manner," the Head of State said.          Every concerned institution must keep aside sectoral ego in tackling the problem, he reminded.

INDONESIA INTENSIFIES FIGHT AGAINST DRUG TRAFFICKERS by Fardah

Jakarta, Nov 11, 2015 (Antara) - Drug abuse, which has particularly poisoned several young men, is one of the two most serious threats being faced by Indonesia besides radicalism.

         Some 4.1 million Indonesians, mostly young people, or 2.2 percent of the country's population, are drug users. Around 40-45 Indonesians die daily as a result of drug addiction.

         Drug addiction will reduce the competitiveness of Indonesia's human resources in the long term and will even affect the nation's survival, Chief of the Indonesian Police Chief General Badrodin Haiti recently cautioned.

         Furthermore, illicit drug abuse has caused damages and losses worth Rp60 trillion annually in Indonesia, General Haiti affirmed.

         Immaterial losses and damages caused by illicit drug abuse amounted to Rp60 trillion per year, he reported.