President Jokowi Orders Trailblazing Steps in Tackling Drug Abuse

President Jokowi chairs a limited meeting on the eradication and handling of drug-related crime, at the Merdeka Palace, Jakarta, Monday (09/11). (Photo by: PR of Cabinet Secretariat/Rahmat)

President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo has ordered his Cabinet Ministers to seek innovative solutions for tackling drug abuse.

“Today, I’d like to call on you all to seek innovative approaches in addressing the issue, as well as in resolving and reducing the number of drug-related crimes,” the President said during a limited meeting on the eradication and handling of drug-related crimes at Merdeka Palace, Jakarta, Monday (09/11).

The President also called for stringent law enforcement against narcotics crimes so as to serve as a deterrent.

“We will start with a strict law enforcement to act as a deterrent because we notice that many of our law enforcement personnel are involved in it. This is a serious matter. Decisive actions must be taken against those perpetrators,” the President said.

Based on data from the National Anti-Drug Agency (BNN), as many as 3.6 million people (or 1.95% of the country’s population) are involved in drug abuse cases, leading to the overcrowding of prisons across the country. In this regard, the President instructed that rehabilitation for drug abusers be carried out in other facilities.

“Since the prisons are overcrowded, the Military Commander suggested that rehabilitation be done in regiment military areas (rindam) in every city. It can accommodate around 300 or 500 individuals for rehabilitation. However, the budget scheme will be further discussed,” he said.

The Head of State also called for stronger surveillance to prevent drug smuggling.

“We must properly tackle this issue. To keep our focus, I want actions to be taken in the top five or ten provinces with the highest number of drug-related crimes,” the President remarked. (TGH/UN) (RIF/RAS/EP)