Indonesia steps up efforts to combat drugs from overseas: anti-drug officer

English.news.cn, by Cundoko Aprilianto, June 21, 2011

JAKARTA, June 21 (Xinhua) -- Indonesia is stepping up efforts to combat incoming drugs from other countries and is increasing cooperation with international anti-drugs bodies, a senior police officer told Xinhua in an interview.

Sen. Comm. Dr. Victor Pudjiadi, deputy for prevention and rehabilitation at the National Anti-Drugs Board, said that foreign drugs dealers from African, European and Asian countries come to Indonesia under disguise and they usually bring drugs in big quantity.

According to Pudjiadi, some international airports in Indonesia now have advanced equipment to detect drugs. "Thanks to the equipment, we have uncovered drugs hidden in drugs dealers' stomach. With the equipment, we can arrest drugs dealers with enough evidence," said Pudjiadi.

He said that in the past, police could not uncover drugs that were hidden in stomach as metal detector did not function to detect the drugs. "So, if they hide the drugs inside their stomach, they will pass the examination," said Pudjiadi.

He also said his organization cooperates with foreign counterparts to share information and capture escaping drugs.

"Whenever drugs dealer suspects escape to other countries, we report to our colleagues overseas. With their help, we can trace drugs dealers wherever they run," said Pudjiadi.

He said success rate of such cooperation is high, but he declined to share any figure.

Responding to critics of increasing number of drugs usage in Indonesia, Pudjiadi said that it looks the number increases whereas the fact is that the number of uncovered case increases.

"That makes the number of drugs usage gets higher even though we are active in socializing anti-drugs campaign. Besides, public awareness also gets higher to report drugs cases to authorities. In the past, many people did not report such case in their family as they were ashamed," he said.

He said that current data of almost four million drugs addicts in Indonesia is just the peak of iceberg. "I believe the actual number is higher," he said.

Editor: An