Jakarta – In an effort to eradicate drug abuse, the active role of the community is very much needed to support the government and law enforcement. Former Deputy for Eradication of the National Narcotics Agency who is now the General Chairperson of the Prevent and Treat Guard (GMDM), Arman Depari, emphasized the importance of cross-sectoral cooperation in eradicating drug crimes that continue to grow.
Arman highlighted the extortion case using the drug raid method against the audience of the 2024 Djakarta Warehouse Project (DWP) music concert from Malaysia. He called the action an abuse of authority and a deviation from procedures in carrying out drug raids, especially in night entertainment venues. “Raids must be carried out according to the rules and involve related parties transparently,” said Arman when met in Central Jakarta, Wednesday, January 8, 2025.
According to Arman, drug raid operations require careful planning that includes the identity of officers, target locations, number of personnel, time, and duration of the raid. “Everything must be recorded in the working paper,” he added. In addition, officers involved are not only from the drug directorate, but also from the ranks of the general police, provost, and even the TNI to ensure the integrity of the operation.
In drug raids, the involvement of health officers is also very important. They are tasked with conducting urine tests, examining drug use tendencies, and laboratory tests. Arman explained that the results of these examinations will be the basis for assessing whether someone needs to be rehabilitated or further action based on the assessment of the BNN team, the prosecutor’s office, and the police.
Elsewhere, the North Sumatra Police Narcotics Investigation Directorate reported success in uncovering 73 narcotics crime cases during the second week of January 2025. Head of Public Relations of the North Sumatra Police, Senior Commissioner Hadi Wahyudi, explained that 92 suspects had been arrested, consisting of 23 users and 69 dealers. The confiscated evidence included crystal methamphetamine, ecstasy pills, marijuana, and supporting equipment for drug trafficking.
Hadi appreciated the hard work of the solid team in identifying and prosecuting drug criminals in the North Sumatra region. “We continue to increase supervision and narrow the movement of drug dealer networks,” he said. The strategy of mapping the distribution area is one of the effective approaches taken by the North Sumatra Police.
Cooperation between the community, government, and law enforcement is key in combating drug trafficking. The success of the North Sumatra Police is proof that solid collaboration can produce significant results.
The government invites the public to continue to play an active role in reporting indications of drug abuse. The public is expected to be the main partner in protecting the younger generation from the threat of drugs. This is a shared task to create a healthy and drug-free environment.
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