Drugs End, Strong Economy! Prabowo Wants People Not to Get Trapped in Drug Networks

Jakarta – The government is increasingly strengthening efforts to eradicate drugs with an economic approach. The Head of the National Narcotics Agency (BNN), Commissioner General of Police Marthinus Hukom, emphasized that drug trafficking is not only a legal problem, but also has a broad impact on the social and economic aspects of society.

In a meeting with the Minister of SMEs Maman Abdurrahman in Jakarta, Marthinus revealed that the narcotics business in Indonesia generates a turnover of up to IDR 500 trillion per year.

“The drug problem is increasingly complex, not only impacting health and security, but also the economy of the community,” he said.

Marthinus explained that drug dealers now control several residential areas and even replace the role of community leaders. They take advantage of the economic conditions of residents by recruiting shrimp farmers as drug couriers, offering payments of up to IDR 40 million per kilogram.

In addition, he also highlighted the widespread use of social media as a means of marketing drugs, which requires a more integrated countermeasure strategy. Currently, the BNN is focusing on handling three drug-prone areas in Jakarta, namely Kampung Boncos, Kampung Bahari, and Kampung Permata.

Responding to this, the Minister of UMKM Maman Abdurrahman emphasized that drug eradication must be accompanied by the creation of economic opportunities for vulnerable communities.

“In Thailand, the government has succeeded in transforming the Golden Triangle area, which was previously the largest opium production center, into a macadamia nut production center. Something similar can be applied in Indonesia with the right approach,” said Maman.

As a concrete step, the BNN and the Ministry of UMKM agreed to draft a memorandum of understanding to strengthen collaboration in developing MSMEs in drug-prone areas.

With this synergy, it is hoped that the Prevention and Eradication of Narcotics Abuse and Illicit Trafficking (P4GN) program can run more effectively, while strengthening the community’s economy so that they no longer fall into the narcotics distribution network.

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