Drugs are increasingly being sold in food packaging, society is increasingly under threat

The mode of distribution of drugs in food packaging such as milk is bringing addictive substances closer to the public.

DIAN DEWI PURNAMASARI

The Directorate of Drug Crimes, Bareskrim Polri, uncovered drug cases throughout September 2023-May 2024, Monday (6/5/2024).

JAKARTA, KOMPAS — The sale of narcotics using food packaging which has been increasingly found recently shows that the circulation of addictive substances is getting closer to the public. The police continue to hunt down drug producers, dealers and drug dealers in order to protect the public and prevent greater damage.

On Monday (6/5/2024), the Directorate of Narcotics Crime Bareskrim Polri uncovered a case of illicit drug trafficking for eight months from September 2023-May 2024. During that period, the Countermeasures Task Force , Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking (P3GN) has arrested 28,382 suspects. A total of 23,333 suspects are currently undergoing the investigation process, while 5,049 others are undergoing rehabilitation. During that time, the police have issued 19,098 reports.

"Judging from the results of the disclosures we made, the P3GN Task Force has succeeded in saving 29,094,472 lives," said the Director of Narcotics Crime Bareskrim National Police Brigadier General (Pol) Mukti Juharsa in a press conference, Monday.

Mukti added that during that period, the police confiscated 1.78 tons of crystal meth, 11.34 kilograms of cocaine, 141.4 kilograms of Gorilla tobacco, 32.27 kilograms of ketamine, 86 grams of heroin, and 8,103,730 pieces of hard drugs.

The Drug Crime Directorate of the Indonesian National Police disclosed a drug case from September 2023 to May 2024, on Monday (6/5/2024). During that period, the police confiscated 1.78 tons of crystal meth, one of which was packed in a milk creamer can.

The police are highlighting 10 prominent cases, including the circulation of methamphetamine through the modus operandi of being inserted into a 20-kilogram creamer can by the Anti-Drug National Task Force of the North Kalimantan Regional Police. The drug was put in a new creamer container to disguise it.

In November 2023, the Drug Crime Directorate of Bareskrim Polri also uncovered a dark laboratory producing happy water drugs used as raw materials for making banana chips in Bantul, DI Yogyakarta. Drug-infused banana chips were sold in various packaging sizes ranging from 50 grams to 500 grams with prices between IDR 1.5 million to IDR 6 million through online stores.

Mukti does not deny that the packaging methods of drugs in milk cream cans and banana chips are bringing drugs closer to the community. Therefore, the police continue to pursue perpetrators who try to deceive law enforcement. Not only do the perpetrators fool the police, but they also deceive Customs officers who are on duty in border areas.

The officers from the Directorate of Narcotics Crime of the Criminal Investigation Department of the Indonesian National Police display the evidence comprising of crystal methamphetamine packaged in a milk creamer can, during the disclosure of a drug case from September 2023 to May 2024 on Monday (6/5/2024).

"The distribution of crystal meth has shifted from Sumatra to Kalimantan and Sulawesi. Therefore, our strategy remains consistent in closing the entry points from those areas. Moreover, the modus operandi is also almost the same as they deceive the officers by packaging it in the form of food," he said.

Although the modus operandi is almost the same, according to him, the networks of the illicit drug trade are still different. The police are currently pursuing various producers and drug dealers who create their own drug laboratories. So far, there have been at least six drug laboratories raided by the police, both in the Metro Jaya Regional Police, the East Java Regional Police, and the National Police Headquarters.

"We appeal to the public to be more active in reporting if there are any unusual activities in their area. For example, the one in Semarang is strange because they have never socialized or met with the community. If there is such a case, report it to the police immediately so that we can investigate. Because currently, there are many modus operandi of creating their own laboratories."

The method of packaging drugs in milk creamer cans and banana chips brings drugs closer to society.

He also agrees that the circulation of drugs with the guise of food makes drugs closer to the community. Therefore, according to him, the heaviest punishment, namely the death penalty, should ideally be applied to drug cases in order to create a deterrent effect.

"The death penalty is good. "But, later we will look at the regulations first because there is a new Criminal Procedure Code (KUHP)," he said.

Fredy Pratama

Regarding the case of the drug syndicate boss of an international network, Fredy Pratama, who built a dark laboratory for making ecstasy in Sunter, North Jakarta, Mukti stated that there is already a commitment between the Indonesian National Police (Polri) and the Thai Police to prosecute the perpetrator under the Money Laundering Crime Act (TPPU). Fredy Pratama's hidden assets, which were disguised through his Thai national wife, will be processed together by the two law enforcement agencies.

Director of Narcotics Crime, Bareskrim Polri, Brigadier General (Pol) Mukti Juharsa during a press conference at Bareskrim Polri, Monday (5/6/2024).

"There is already a commitment from the Head of the Narcotics Section of the Thai Police with us in Indonesia that because the initial criminal act occurred in Indonesia, it must be handed over to us. However, there are no assets in Indonesia, all of them are in Thailand," he said.

Also read: Freddy Budiman "Sunset", "Arise" Fredy Pratama

The Head of RW 012 in Papanggo Village, Suryanto, said that he does not know much about the activities of the people in the house, including the delivery of large quantities of goods or packages to the house. What is clear is that the house has been rented out several times by its owner.

"We were shocked, especially as it turned out to be a (ecstasy) factory," said Suryanto.