National Narcotics Agency (BNN) officials arrange evidence to be exhibited at the BNN Office in Jakarta, Thursday (27/7). The BNN has arrested a member of an international drug network and confiscated 284 kilograms of crystal meth as evidence, hidden inside a seeding machine and a van.
JAKARTA, KOMPAS — Narcotics and illicit drugs threaten the resilience of the state and has penetrated all corners of the country. Drug users are not only those of the younger generation but also law enforcement officers and state officials. Indonesia is an easy target because of poor law enforcement.
Last week’s crackdown by the Jakarta Police narcotics unit and the Depok Police on the attempt to smuggle 1 ton of shabu (crystal methamphetamine) in Anyer, Banten, was historic in Indonesia’s war on drugs. The crackdown was a record. The attempt to smuggle 1 ton of shabu worth Rp 1.5 trillion was reckless and allegedly operated by a large network.
Two weeks later, the National Narcotics Agency (BNN) and the National Police Criminal Investigation Agency (Bareskrim) an attempt to smuggle181.6 kilograms of shabu in Penjaringan, North Jakarta. The drugs were hidden inside eight polishing machines. Another smuggling case foiled by law enforcement, involving 1.2 million ecstasy pills intended for distribution to several nightclubs in Jakarta and other cities, was orchestrated by convicts in Nusakambangan.
These three major drug smuggling cases over the past three weeks show how Indonesia is already a potential market for international drug syndicates that smuggle drugs to Indonesia by land, sea and air. They do not hesitate to involve law enforcement apparatuses, such as policemen, military personnel and prison officers, with the lure of money. The BNN said at least 72 international drug distribution networks were operating in Indonesia.
Based on Kompas’s record, the crackdown on major drug cases happened not only in Jakarta, but also in many regions across Indonesia. In July, 44 kilograms of shabu were confiscated in Serdang Bedagai, North Sumatra. Cyrstal meth was also found to have entered Central Sulawesi when 5.1 kg of shabu was confiscated at Dede Port in Tolitolu.
In April, 40 kg of shabu and 160,000 ecstasy pills were confiscated in Siak, Riau. In the same month, 17.2 kg of shabu and nearly 12,000 ecstasy pills were confiscated in Surabaya, East Java. In February, 11 kg of shabu was confiscated, hidden in air cargo at Juwata Port, Tarakan, North Kalimantan.
BNN head Comr. Gen. Budi Waseso said smugglers always search for new ways to bring shabu into Indonesia. BNN and the Finance Ministry’s customs office have repeatedly foiled attempts to smuggle drugs hidden in shoes, compressors and steel bars, undetected by X-ray.
Local involvement
BNN deputy for drug eradication Insp. Gen. Arman Depari alleged that many individuals in the country were involved in smuggling drugs into Indonesia. They were suspected of being informants for drug bosses who smuggled drugs in high volumes. “It would not be possible for the smuggling of 1 ton of shabu in Anyer, Banten, not to have involved[law enforcement],” he said.
Drug bosses and their networks use high-ranking law enforcement officials. BNN arrested the Army’s Semarang Naval Base commander, identified as Col. AS, who was found consuming drugs. AS used his power to protect members of the drug network in the country. An exchange of fire took place when BNN investigators cracked down on a drug network in Medan, North Sumatra, in March. The smuggling involved a member of the Medan Military Police’s Detachment I/5, identified as H.
In mid-July, the head of the Coast Guard at Cermin Beach, North Sumatra, identified as SH, 42, was alleged to have secured the smuggling of 45.5 kg of shabu via the beach under his supervision. SH received Rp 125 million in payment.
The ease with which members of law enforcement can be bribed and the country’s poor law enforcement make Indonesia attractive to drug lords. Law enforcement in Malaysia, Singapore and the Philippines are tougher. National Police chief Gen. Tito Karnavian said the police must take a tougher stance by shooting dead drug bosses. Tito believes harsh measures could reduce drug distribution in Indonesia, just like in the Philippines.
Over 5 millionabusers
At present, there are at least five million active drug users in Indonesia who are part of the rehabilitation program. This number excludes drug users who are not in rehabilitation. However, the prevalence of drug users among teenagers dropped from 2009 to 2011, from 5.1 percent to 2.9 percent.
BNN stated two of every 100 high school and university students in Indonesia used narcotics. “The danger of drugs cannot be ignored, as it endangers the state’s resilience,” said University of Indonesia’sSchool of Global and Strategic Studies deputy director Benny J Mamoto.
Quoting an official of the US’s Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA),Steven W Casteel, Benny J Mamoto said that drugs were an effective weapon of mass destruction. “When the younger generation has no competitive edge because their brains are damaged by drugs, Indonesia could be colonized [without physical action]. This could happen in the future if we are not serious and vigilant,” he added.
