Drug War: The Indonesian Army Steps Up Local Community Involvement in Border Areas with Malaysia
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4 August 2024 14:09 WIB
TEMPO.CO, Kapuas Hulu - Indonesian army personnel stationed to secure the Indonesia-Malaysia border areas in West Kalimantan have intensified the engagement of local community figures and members in their war on drugs, a top military officer stated.
To this end, Commander of the 121/Abw Military Command Post (Korem) Brig. Gen. Luqman Arief launched the "Anti-Drug Embrio Radar" Program at the Badau Integrated Cross-Border Post (PLBN) in Kapuas Hulu District on Friday.
"Now, we intensify our fight against drug trafficking along the land border in West Kalimantan," he remarked, adding that local community members and their influential figures and tribal leaders are involved in the war.
Arief remarked that the "Anti-Drug Embrio Radar" Program aims to prevent drug smuggling and trafficking operations along the Indonesia-Malaysia border to protect Indonesian youngsters from being dragged into drug addiction.
He pointed out that the land border remains vulnerable to transnational drug trafficking operations due to the availability of shortcuts while pressing for the locals' participation in the war on drugs.
"We do need our people's participation. Please report to the police or us if you have tip-offs about drug trafficking or smuggling activities. We are ready to protect whistleblowers," he stated.
As reported earlier, on the evening of May 30, 2024, nine army personnel arrested five smugglers from a Malaysia-Indonesia drug syndicate in West Kalimantan during an ambush operation.
The soldiers, who belong to the 16/Tk Field Artillery Battalion (Yon Armed) - Western Sector, stationed in Semunying Jaya Village, Jagoi Babang Sub-district, Bengkayang District, West Kalimantan, also seized at least 21.2 kilograms of methamphetamine from the suspects.
He stated that the five suspects were identified as DD (26), RN (34), JK (35), BD (45), and SP (42). DD and RN are Malaysian citizens, while the rest are residents of West Kalimantan.
The crystal meth package seized during the operation had been handed over to the West Kalimantan office of the National Narcotics Agency (BNN) for further investigation.
Domestic and transnational drug dealers consider Indonesia to be a potential market due to its vast population and widespread drug use.
The value of drug trade in the country is estimated to have reached nearly Rp66 trillion (around US$4.2 billion), with the number of drug trafficking cases continuing to rise.
ANTARA
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