TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - South Kalimantan Governor Sahbirin Noor promised to reward members of the provincial police's narcotics division for uncovering a major drug racket and seizing 208 kg of crystal meth and 13.9 kg of ecstasy pills.

"This was a successful and extraordinary operation by our police officers. It needs to be highly appreciated. I request Mr. Speaker of the South Kalimantan Provincial Legislative Body Supian HK to help provide the reward," he said at a press conference here on Monday.

The press conference was attended by South Kalimantan Police Chief Inspector General Yazid Fanani, members of the Regional Leadership Communication Forum (Forkopimda), and several religious figures.

The governor said South Kalimantan investigators confiscated a large consignment of drugs. "Our police have just uncovered a Malaysian drug ring and seized 22.7 kg of crystal methamphetamine," he said.

Local police also confiscated an additional 208 kg of crystal meth and 13.9 kg of ecstasy pills. "South Kalimantan is evidently targeted by trans-national drug syndicates," the Governor noted.

During the recent drug operation, police apprehended a suspect, identified only by his initials as DA. The 25-year-old courier told investigators that he was paid Rp20 million to transport the drugs.

Governor Sahbirin Noor said the war on drugs demands never-ending hard work to save the people of South Kalimantan Province from drug abuse.

"I cannot imagine what would have happened if this huge drug consignment had reached our people. It would have affected the generation of the Land of Lambung Mangkurat," he said.

Malaysia-Indonesia drug lords have been targeting not just the people of South Kalimantan, but also West Kalimantan Province.

The West Kalimantan anti-drug squad recently thwarted an attempt to smuggle five kg of crystal meth from the Malaysian city of Kuching into West Kalimantan Province with the help of a drug convict at Pontianak's penitentiary.

Indonesia remains under grave threat from drug dealers, with a number of individuals from the nation's working-age group getting trapped in the vicious cycle of drug abuse.

The National Narcotics Agency (BNN) reports that around 50 Indonesians die of drug use daily, but that has not deterred the consumption of drugs in the country.

The users of crystal methamphetamine, narcotics, marijuana, and other types of addictive drugs belong to all communities and transcend socio-economic and cultural backgrounds, according to officials.

Indonesia is viewed by both domestic and transnational drug dealers as a potential market owing to its huge population and millions of drug users. The value of drug trade in the country is estimated to have reached about Rp66 trillion.

ANTARA