N. Jakarta Most Vulnerable to Drug Abuse: Jakarta Deputy Governor

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Jakarta Deputy Governor Djarot Saiful Hidayat said the prevalence of drug abuse in Jakarta is still high and the number continues to rise.

He added that the area of the highest vulnerability of drug abuse is North Jakarta.

"The fact that North Jakarta has seen most cases of drug abuse is true. Yesterday we arrested so many drug abusers there," Djarot said in West Jakarta on Sunday (26/5).

Djarot mentioned that about 3.5 percent of Jakarta residents abuse drug and the figure has increased from that of last year, which reached 3.4 percent.

"This year, the number has increased," Djarot said.

Meanwhile, an increasing number of drug abuse, according Djarot, is caused by many things, especially the existence of an international syndicate.

To that end, he appealed to all parties to continue the fight against drug trafficking and drug abuse.

Djarot also said the city government continues to coordinate with the National Narcotics Agency Province (BNNP) to perform operations on a regular basis and the target of the operation is nightspots.

"The target of the operation is primarily places of entertainment because there, drug abuse is very common," he said.

For the record, Sunday June 26 is commemorated as the International Anti Narcotics Day.

The commemoration was held in Lapangan Parkir Jalan Cengkeh, Taman Sari District, Kota Tua, West Jakarta.

Also present at the event were the President Joko Widodo, BNN Head Budi Waseso, National Police Chief Gen. Badrodin Haiti, and Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal and Security Affairs Luhur Binsar Pandjaitan.

This year’s commemoration carries the theme 'listen to children and youth is the first step to help them grow healthy and safe'. The theme implies that the best strategy in the prevention of narcotics is to prioritize children and the youth.

LARISSA HUDA