Tighten the Penalty, in the Era of Prabowo, Drugs Are No Longer a Toy

By: Arifah Winarni

The drug problem in Indonesia is not just a legal issue, but also a serious threat to the future of the nation. Abuse and illicit trafficking of narcotics have destroyed many young generations, created a chain of crime, and weakened the social and economic structure of society. Realizing the enormous impact, the government of President Prabowo Subianto has taken a firm stance in eradicating drugs, especially against dealers who have been destroying people’s lives.

In an effort to tighten supervision of drug crimes, the government has ensured that there is no room for drug dealers to receive amnesty. The Minister of Law and Human Rights, Supratman Andi Agtas, emphasized that in the 2025 prisoner amnesty policy, drug dealers are not included in the category entitled to receive amnesty.

This statement received support from Member of Commission XIII of the Indonesian House of Representatives, Edison Sitorus, who firmly rejected the possibility of granting amnesty for drug convicts. His party strongly objects when there is an amnesty for drug dealers.

Responding to this, the Minister of Law and Human Rights, Supratman Andi Agtas emphasized that from the beginning the government has set clear criteria regarding who is entitled to receive amnesty, and drug dealers are not included in this category, namely people who violate or are convicted of crimes related to the ITE Law, and even then only related to insulting the head of state or the government.
This decision shows the government’s consistency in ensuring that drug dealers do not have legal loopholes to avoid punishment. This firmness is an important step considering the many dealers who can still operate even though they have been arrested, even from behind bars.
The government’s firmness in fighting drugs is not without reason. Based on data from the National Narcotics Agency (BNN), around 312 thousand teenagers in Indonesia have been exposed to drugs. This figure reflects how massive the circulation of drugs is, which not only targets adults, but also targets the younger generation as the main market.
Moreover, the narcotics business in Indonesia has a turnover of hundreds of trillions of rupiah per year. Drug distribution does not only occur in urban areas but has also infiltrated rural areas and remote areas. Drug dealers are increasingly clever in exploiting legal and economic loopholes to expand their networks.
In some cases, drug dealers even have control over certain communities and regions by exploiting the weak economic conditions of the community to recruit people to become part of the network. It is not surprising that many cases show that people who are experiencing economic difficulties are easy targets to be used as couriers or even small-time dealers. Thus, eradicating drugs is not enough to be done only through a legal approach, but must also be accompanied by social and economic-based prevention efforts.
Although the government has taken firm steps, there are several challenges that must be faced in eradicating drugs. One of them is corruption in the legal system and law enforcement. Several cases show that certain officers can still be bribed to protect drug trafficking networks.
In addition, the role of technology in drug trafficking is also increasingly difficult to control. Social media is now the main tool for drug dealers to operate more secretly. Encrypted communication systems, digital financial transactions, and the use of intermediary networks that are difficult to track make the drug business increasingly difficult to eradicate using conventional methods.
Not only that, prisons in Indonesia also face serious problems in handling drug convicts. Many cases show that even though they are behind bars, some dealers can still control drug trafficking from inside prison. This situation is a big challenge for the government to ensure that the punishment given truly has a deterrent effect. Eradicating drugs must be a shared responsibility. The government, law enforcement, the community, and the business world must work together to fight the threat of narcotics. The government’s move to refuse to grant amnesty to drug dealers is a strong signal that the state will not compromise in fighting this crime. However, this policy must be accompanied by a broader prevention strategy, including education for the community and the creation of economic opportunities for those who are vulnerable to being recruited by drug networks.