TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - President Joko Widodo or Jokowi gathered ministers and heads of institutions to discuss drug handling at the Merdeka Palace in Jakarta on Thursday, October 12, 2023. The meeting was held behind closed doors.

Among those present were Deputy Finance Minister Suahasil Nazara, Deputy Health Minister Dante Saksono Harbuwono, Immigration Director-General Silmy Karim, Communications and Information Minister Budi Arie Setiadi, Deputy Attorney General Sunarta, and Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal and Security Affairs Mahfud Md.

“To discuss drugs,” Mahfud said.

The latest limited meeting on drug handling was held on Monday, September 11, 2023, and was attended by the coordinating ministers, the National Police Chief, and the Indonesian Military (TNI) Commander. Jokowi called on law enforcers to create breakthroughs in the fight against drug abuse. He hoped that what he called extraordinary crimes could be curbed.

He demanded rehabilitation for drug abusers in other facilities, such as the Regional Military Regiment in each city, as suggested by the Military Commander. Yet the budget still needed further discussion.

In terms of prevention, the President called for increased surveillance to prevent drug smuggling by prioritizing the five or ten provinces with the highest number of drug cases.

According to the National Narcotics Agency (BNN), 3.6 million people, or 1.95 percent of the total population, were involved in drug abuse. Consequently, the capacity of correctional facilities continued to increase.

DANIEL A. FAJRI

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