President Calls All Parties to Fight Against Drugs

President Jokowi leads a limited meeting at the Presidential Office (24/2)

President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo instructed more active, braver, intensive, comprehensive, and integrated  efforts to eradicate drugs and narcotics.

Therefore, as delivered in his remarks in a limited meeting at the Presidential Office, on Wednesday (24/2) afternoon, the President instructed the related ministries/institutions to rid of sectoral ego and to move together to eradicate drugs because it is our number one problem.

“They must build synergy and move together. The National Narcotics Agency (BNN), Indonesian National Police (Polri), Indonesian National Defence Forces (TNI), Ministry of Law and Human Rights, Customs Office, Ministry of Communication and Informatics, Ministry of Education, and Ministry of Social Affairs as well as Ministry of Health must take an integrated step,” President Jokowi firmly said.

President Jokowi ordered the ministries and institutions to declare war on drug dealers, as well as apply stronger law enforcement to the related networks because drugs have infiltrated many aspects.

“Close any smuggling gap relating to drugs at our entrances, either in seaports, airports, or small seaports around the country,” the President requested.

President Jokowi also stressed on the importance to intensify creative campaigns (to raise public awareness) on drugs damage, and conduct a more effective rehabilitation for drugs addict, so we can cut the chain of drug abuse.

Concluding his instruction, President Jokowi instructed to carry on very strict control to the detention centers (Lapas), particularly detention center for drug convicts.

“The BNN and Polri, with back-up from TNI must conduct sudden inspection to detention center once or twice a month regularly because more than 50 percent of drug trafficking happen in the detention center,” President Jokowi said.

The limited meeting was attended by the Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal, and Security Affairs Luhut B. Pandjaitan, Coordinating Minister for the Economy Darmin Nasution, Coordinating Minister for Human Development and Culture Puan Maharani, Minister of State Secretary Pratikno, Cabinet Secretary Pramono Anung, Presidential Chief of Staffs Teten Masduki, Minister of Foreign Affairs Retno Marsudi, Minister of Law and Human Rights Yasonna H. Laoly, Minister of Youth and Sports Imam Nahrawi, Minister of Health Nila Moeloek, Minister of Social Affairs Khofifah Indar Parawansa, TNI Commander Gen. Gatot Nurmantyo, Indonesian National Police Chief Gen. Badrodin Haiti, and BNN Chief Comr. Gen. Budi Waseso. (FID/UN/ES) (RAS/MMB/YM/Naster)