Drug smuggling will definitely continue. Aside from reducing inter-institutional egoism, the police will also boost their efforts by procuring advanced detecting technology.
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JAKARTA, KOMPAS — Indonesia has become a potential market and place for drug market testing globally. The rampant drug smuggling, particularly of sabu-sabu (crystal methamphetamine) in tons, is one indicator.
In the past three weeks, a joint team stopped an attempt to smuggle more than 2 tons of crystal meth from China in the Riau Islands waters.
“Any kind of drug is sold in Indonesia. To make things worse, Indonesia has become a place for market testing,” National Narcotics Agency (BNN) head Comr. Gen. Budi Waseso said Wednesday (21/2).
International smuggling networks have produced new kinds of drugs to deceive security personnel. On the other side, the public tends to try new drugs.
In other words, it is important to find out which drugs are being tested in Indonesia before they are marketed to other countries. Several new kinds of drug are Gorilla brand cannabinoid tobacco and liquid for e-cigarettes containing synthetic cannabis and paracetamol/acetaminophen, caffeine and carisoprodol (PCC) pills, popular among Indonesian youths and adults. The shipment of millions of ecstasy pills from Europe is also on the rise. The consumers are students, lecturers, unemployed people and businesspeople as well as common people, celebrities, artists, politicians and state officials.
From its number, compared to in 2017, the amount of crystal meth from China increased threefold to almost 3 tons this year.
“The number was announced by the drug detective directorate at the regional police office. That excludes the cases at the BNN, the provincial office of the BNN and the regency or district police,” National Police Criminal Investigation Department drug crime director Brig. Gen. Eko Daniyanto said.
Budi said the arrival of drugs, including the new ones, to Indonesia was, among others, aided by the vast sea and limited number of security officials. The high demand was also the trigger.
Many skip security checks
The seizing of almost 3 tons of crystal meth in the past three weeks was laudable. However, it is believed more crystal meth and other types of drug have entered the country and are now in circulation.
Budi said the method the drug smugglers used was sending ships loaded with crystal meth, like the two ships in the past month in Riau Islands waters. But, only a few of the ships were arrested.
The crystal meth smuggling foiled by the security accounted for only 10 percent of smuggling attempts into the country. “If there are attempts being foiled, the other ships will move [to enter the country],” he said.
In the latest case, after the MV Sunrise Glory was apprehended by the Navy in early February, the security force received information about another ship carrying crystal meth. At dawn on Tuesday (20/2), the National Police and customs task force apprehended the Chinese- and Singaporean-flagged MV Min Lian Yu Yun 61870 ship that was carrying 1.6 tons of crystal meth.
There were two crucial elements in the effort to foil the drug smuggling, namely detection using information technology, such as a direction finder and cooperation with other state institutions. The advanced device detects phone conversations, the presence of the target in the sea, on land and in the sky, and can also take photos.
“It is not easy to synergize the work of state institutions. During the crack down of the 1.6 crystal meth, we got rid of the institutional egoism,” said Eko. The joint team consists of personnel from the National Police, the Jakarta Police and the customs and excise office.
Coordination to unveil the case took months. Some team members worked in disguise to map out the coastline around Tanjung Lesung, Banten, based on information about the arrival of the ship. “They swam to check the coast,” Jakarta Police drug detective director Sr. Comr. Suwondo Nainggolan said.
Cooperation
The smuggling of crystal meth in large numbers surely will not end soon. Therefore, the National Police are involving other ministries or agencies.
“We are aiming to improve sea patrols. We must increase alertness considering the fishing vessels are possibly also used to smuggle drugs,” Navy Chief of Staff Adm. Ade Supandi said at the Navy Training Center in Grati, Pasuruan, East Java.
Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Minister Susi Pudjiastuti said the ministry’s ship had cooperated with the police, the Navy and BNN on measures to counter drug smuggling through the sea. “The task force always assists the investigation process,” she said.
Regarding the execution of high-crime convicts, including drug convicts, Attorney General HM Prasetyo said there was no execution plan in the near future. He did not give the reasons and only said it must be carried out carefully considering the pros and cons.