TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Indonesian Military (TNI) Commander General Gatot Nurmantyo said that drug threat is not less dangerous than terrorism.
"Terrorism and drugs are both dangerous. Unfortunately, terrorism is receiving too much attention and the issue of drugs become underrated despite the fact that it is equally threatening since it is pervasive," he said in Jakarta on Friday, July 14.
Furthermore, the former National Army Chief of Staff explained, 15,000 Indonesians died from drugs every year and this figure is getting higher. Meanwhile, he added, dead victims due to bombing are less than 1,500 people until now.
Read: Police Foil Attempt to Smuggle One Ton Crystal Meth from Taiwan
In addition, he said, the spread of drugs is massive and it already reaches remote areas. To make matters worse, 250,000 tons of crystal methamphetamine from China have entered Indonesia.
He further expressed his appreciation towards the National Police and National Narcotics Agency (BNN) for their success in the smuggling case of one ton of crystal methamphetamine in Serang, Banten on Thursday.
"I highly commend the police and BNN. It is the largest amount of drug confiscation in Indonesia’s history," he said.
ANTARA