By: Dirandra Falguni)*
Efforts to eradicate drugs continue to be the main focus of the government under the leadership of President Prabowo Subianto. One of the main visions of Asta Cita, namely the government’s priority agenda aimed at strengthening law enforcement and eradicating drugs, gambling, corruption, and smuggling, is a strategic foundation in dealing with the drug problem comprehensively. President Prabowo is aware that drug abuse has a negative impact on the future of the younger generation and social stability in Indonesia. Therefore, handling drug trafficking, both from the supply and demand sides, is being aggressively intensified by involving various government agencies.
On Friday, November 1, 2024, the Criminal Investigation Unit of the Indonesian National Police managed to uncover various narcotics cases in a joint operation that lasted for the past two months, in collaboration with the Regional Police and related agencies such as the National Narcotics Agency (BNN), the Attorney General’s Office, PPATK, and the Directorate General of Customs and Excise. In this operation, the police managed to uncover 80 drug cases, including three international drug networks operating in various provinces in Indonesia.
According to the Head of the Criminal Investigation Unit of the Indonesian National Police, Commissioner General Wahyu Widada, this success is an effort to support the 7th Asta Cita launched by President Prabowo to strengthen legal reform and eradicate narcotics. This operation succeeded in naming 136 suspects and securing various types of evidence, including 1.7 tons of crystal methamphetamine, 1.12 tons of marijuana, and 357,731 ecstasy pills. This arrest is believed to be able to save around 6.2 million lives from the potential dangers of narcotics. In addition, the turnover of money from the three large networks that were uncovered is estimated to reach IDR 59.2 trillion, with assets worth IDR 869.7 billion confiscated through the application of the Money Laundering Crime Article (TPPU).
Commissioner General Wahyu emphasized that this step is part of the National Police’s commitment to providing protection to the community, especially the younger generation, from the threat of drugs. He emphasized that his party will impoverish drug dealers as an effort to provide a deterrent effect. In addition to taking action, the National Police also prioritizes prevention efforts by involving the community to change drug-prone villages into drug-free villages.
Not only at the national level, the drug eradication policy is also implemented concretely in the regions. In Kotawaringin Timur Regency, the local Police also played an active role in supporting the first 100 days of President Prabowo’s Asta Cita program. Kotawaringin Timur Police Chief, AKBP Resky Maulana Zulkarnain, stated that his party had succeeded in uncovering seven drug cases with a total of eight suspects and securing 619.02 grams of crystal methamphetamine over the past month.
Kapolres Resky also said that his party is working together with government agencies and the community in preventing drug trafficking, including conducting urine tests on government employees and police officers. Strict supervision is carried out in places prone to drugs, and his party does not hesitate to take firm action even against State Civil Apparatus (ASN) involved in drug abuse. This effort is expected to build an environment that is clean from drugs, as part of the grand vision of Indonesia Emas 2045.
In Pamekasan Regency, Pamekasan Police under the command of Senior Commissioner Jazuli Dani Iriawan emphasized the importance of law enforcement against drug trafficking and online gambling as a form of support for Asta Cita. Chief of Police Dani asked the Satresnarkoba and Satreskrim units to increase surveillance in drug-prone areas and identify social media accounts involved in these illegal activities. He also appealed to the public and government agencies to jointly support food self-sufficiency, which is one aspect of Asta Cita.
By optimizing coordination at the regional level, Kapolres Jazuli Dani Iriawan hopes that the 100-day program initiated by President Prabowo can immediately provide real impacts in society. He emphasized that the Polri’s commitment to supporting Asta Cita is a strategic step in realizing a more prosperous and secure Indonesia.
The involvement of officers in drug networks is a special concern in the drug eradication program under Asta Cita. The Head of the Criminal Investigation Unit of the National Police emphasized that his party will not tolerate any law enforcement officers who are proven to be involved in this illegal activity. The legal process and criminal justice will be applied without discrimination, both to the general public and officers who abuse their authority.
The firm instruction from the Chief of Police, General Listyo Sigit Prabowo is in line with President Prabowo’s vision to create transparent and integrity-based law enforcement. This step is important to ensure that reforms within the Police are consistent with the great goal of Asta Cita, which is to provide a sense of security and justice for all Indonesian people.
Eradicating drugs is not just about arresting perpetrators or confiscating evidence, but also involves comprehensive prevention and rehabilitation efforts. Through Asta Cita, the government invites all elements of society, including the business world and community organizations, to be actively involved in drug prevention programs. The National Police are also instructed to continue to collaborate with the community in creating an environment that is safe from the influence of drugs, especially in vulnerable villages.
This policy is in line with the vision of Indonesia Emas 2045, where Indonesia is expected to become a developed country and free from social problems such as drugs. With the government’s fast and firm steps and support from various parties, the hope of realizing a brighter future for Indonesia is increasingly visible.
The implementation of President Prabowo’s Asta Cita shows that the government is serious about dealing with the threat of drugs in Indonesia. Through solid coordination between agencies, periodic joint operations, and indiscriminate law enforcement, the National Police have succeeded in uncovering a large drug network in Indonesia. This success has not only saved millions of lives but also demonstrated a strong commitment to eradicating drugs.
By continuing to focus on eradication and prevention, the government is optimistic that Asta Cita will be a solid foundation towards a safer and more prosperous Indonesia. The steps that have been taken by the government in eradicating drugs are a real manifestation of the commitment of President Prabowo and all levels in creating a drug-free Indonesia and ready to welcome a better future.
)* The author is a contributor to Beritakapuas.com