SE Sulawesi Police Destroy Almost 19 Kg of Crystal Meth

TEMPO.CO, Kendari - The Southeast Sulawesi Police have destroyed 18.895 kilograms of crystal methamphetamine (crystal meth), seized from various drug raid operations that the local police narcotics squad personnel conducted from January to November this year, a police officer said.

"Destroying these evidence of drug crimes is part of our commitment to the war on drug," Director of the Southeast Sulawesi Police's Narcotics Department Sen.Coms. Satria Adhy Permana told journalists in Kendari on Saturday.

On Nov. 28, the local police had also destroyed 1.339 kilograms of crystal meth or sabu-sabu and 15 ecstasy pills. The drug was confiscated from three suspects that  the police investigators arrested in several drug raids from Oct. to Nov., he said.

In strengthening this endless war on illicit drug, Permana appealed to all related stakeholders and community members to join the endeavors to crush drug kingpins and those involving in the drug trafficking activities in the province.

With this solid collaboration, many community members, including millennials who would become the future leaders of the province and the nation, could be saved from the traps of drug kingpins, he added.

Indonesia remains under grave threat from drug dealers, as several individuals from its working-age population have been embroiled in a vicious circle.

According to the National Narcotics Agency's report, some 50 drug use-related deaths occur in Indonesia. However, their deaths have failed to deter other drug users in the country from consuming these banned substances.

Users of crystal methamphetamine, narcotics, marijuana, and other addictive drugs transcend communities and socio-economic and cultural backgrounds.

Hence, Indonesia is perceived by both domestic and transnational drug dealers as a potential market due to its huge population and millions of drug users. The value of the drug trade in the country is estimated at nearly Rp66 trillion.

In response to the illicit drugs that drug kingpins have smuggled into and traded in the country over the past few decades, the Indonesian government continues to apply punitive measures against them.

Indonesian President Joko Widodo had also issued shoot-at-sight orders against drug kingpins. However, this has failed to dissuade drug traffickers, who continue to treat Indonesia as one of their main markets even as Indonesian law enforcers continue their relentless fight against them.

ANTARA