Vessels filled with PPC pills (paracetamol, caffeine, carisoprodol) ready for distribution were seized as evidence Tuesday (19/9) by the National Police\'s Criminal Investigation Department in cooperation with the Banyumas Police. A joint raid on two shop houses on Jl. Raya Baturraden, Purwokerto, Banyumas regency, Central Java, which were used to manufacture the drugs, found manufacturing equipment and hundreds of thousands of pills.
Humanitarian crimes and drugs market regeneration: these two phrases came from the heads of the Food and Drug Monitoring Agency (BPOM) and the National Narcotics Agency (BNN).
The phrases came up in response to a question regarding the rampant circulation of PCC (paracetamol, caffeine, carisoprodol) pills in Kendari and other areas in Indonesia. The pills’ distribution targeted school students in Kendari. After the PCC pills were discovered circulating in Kendari, they were found in other regions, including a separate case that uncovered 12 tons of carisoprodol smuggled in from India.
BPOM head Penny Kusumastuti Lukito said that the distribution of the PCC pills was a crime against humanity. The phrase was certainly strong; in fact, extremely strong! “It is not only about the economy and public health, but it is also an effort to ruin the next generation,” said Penny, as quoted by this newspaper. BNN head Budi Waseso said the PCC pill circulation was an effort by drug networks to regenerate the market.
Penny’s choice of phrase was, of course, supported by data. We hope that the BPOM and other authorities take a joint action that is equally as strong in order to overcome this crime against humanity. Choosing Oct. 4, 2017, as the date of the BPOM’s national drug eradication campaign, the Health Ministry, the Home Ministry, the BNN and the Supreme Court is too far off!
American media in Florida reported in 2003 that as many as 209 people had died after consuming PCC pills, of which have caused more deaths than heroin.
If what is happening is indeed a crime against humanity, all components of the nation must move in concert. Drugs and drug abuse are a serious national threat. Raids must made on every place the drugs are sold. There is no need to wait for Oct. 4 when the people have held a nationwide rally. All law enforcement must uncover the networks behind the circulation of PCC that targets the country’s young generation.
A question is raised: if carisoprodol has been banned since 2013, why is it still in circulation? If the argument is that the carisoprodol is being produced illegally, then who is responsible for the drug’s circulation? A weakness in law enforcement may be the cause of the rampant spread of PCC. Even though the Health Law imposes a maximum 15-year jail sentence for anyone found distributing drugs and medicines without a marketing license, the fact is that the average punishment for a drug trafficker is four months’ imprisonment.
We hope that the phrase “crime against humanity” is followed by a measure that is equally as strong to overcome the threat to humans. It should not be the case that preventive and other measures taken against the misuse of dangerous drugs ends up only being strong rhetoric, without any real action.
