The National Narcotics Agency (BNN) presents evidence confiscated from a foiled drug smugglingattempt, consisting of 137 kilograms of crystal meth and 42,500 ecstasy pills at its Jakarta headquarters,Wednesday (27/9). The drugs were smuggled from Malaysia to Indonesia by sea through Ujung Curamwaters in East Aceh, Nanggroe Aceh Darussalam.
JAKARTA, KOMPAS — The efforts of drug dealers to create a new generation of addicts by targeting kindergarten and elementary school students are a threat to the demographic bonus expected in 2030. The distribution of drugs must be countered by adopting layered protection.
Drugs must be seen as a public enemy and not just the enemy of the government, the National Police and the National Narcotics Agency (BNN). Layered protection must be applied, starting from children, families, schools, communities, regional administrations and all parties so that there is no space for the drug dealer to approach children.
Indonesian Children Protection Agency (LPAI) children’s rights head Reza Indragiri Amriel said narcoterrorism was a new kind of terrorism. “Without explosives, these criminals sell drugs in small amounts, making children addicted. The aim is to destroy the future of the nation,” Amriel said on Thursday (28/9).
Therefore, an assertiveness campaign is needed so all parties will be empowered to say no to drugs.
Women and child protection coordinator Sujatmiko at the Office of the Coordinating Human Development and Culture Minister and for children development deputy Lenny Rosalin at the Women’s Empowerment and Child Protection Ministry (KPPPA) said all parties must fight against the spread of drugs. The regeneration of drug users by targeting kindergarten and elementary school children was a great threat to the country, as it would destroy the future of the nation.
“This is alarming. If the future of the children is destroyed, will we enjoy the demographic bonus of70 percent productive age in 2030?” Sujatmiko said.
Lenny said the ministry had been focusing on prevention by conducting familiarization and advocacy programs for children, including using child forums at the provincial, regency and village levels to combat drugs.
Family empowerment
“Family empowerment is very crucial, how the family must tell children not to accept anything from a stranger. The family must know who the child deals with,” she said.
“The drug dealers’ target is children in kindergarten and elementary school. Thus, not only the family, but all parties including teachers must be aware of drugs,” she added.
Indonesian Teachers Association chairperson Unifah Rosyidi said the organization found it difficult to educate teachers on the types of illicit drugs because there were so many varieties. The most effective way was to teach children to reject any offer from a stranger as a preventive measure.
Unifah said teachers were trained not to allow unauthorized promotions at schools, except those with a permit from the school. The students are also suggested to bring their own meals from home.
The school is also expected to have a healthy canteen with tight supervision. “Sellers who have no permit from the principal are not allowed to be in the school area,” she said.
Indonesian Child Protection Commission (KPAI) chairman Susanto emphasized the importance of communication and compassion between parents and children.
“Broken communication leaves children vulnerable to try various negative things,” he said. Parents, as the initial filter, must teach their children to be self-confident and to know what is bad for them.
National Commission for Child Protection chairman Arist Merdeka Sirait said the empowerment of children and parents through early prevention and detection of child exploitation must be held in classrooms, home or public spaces.
Meanwhile, Social Affairs Ministry children’s social rehabilitation director Nahar said drug dealers attempted to regenerate drug addicts by targeting children because more and more vulnerable spaces were appearing in parenting methods. This will make the regeneration of drug addicts easier.
The Social Affairs Ministry has thus opened a counseling service hotline through its child social services (Tepsa) at 1500771. Some of the cases reported through the hotline were related to drugs. The ministry also offers social rehabilitation centers in the form of drug rehabilitation centers (IPWL) and child protection homes (RPSA).
The KPAI stated the regeneration of drug addicts was a serious crime, and urged the state to take up the fight against drug dealers that were destroying the new generation. “The state must not be defeated. The criminals must be brought to court and given the maximum punishment,” Susanto added.
Illegal drug factory
Banten’s South Tangerang Police have shut down an illegal factory that produced drugs with hazardous chemicals and distributed it to kiosks in Tangerang and nearby areas.
The crackdown occurred on Thursday on Jl. Palem Manis Blok E1 in the warehouse complex of Sentra Prima Tekno Park, Jatiuwung, Tangerang. The factory had been producing illegal drugs for the past three months.
South Tangerang Police chief Adj. Sr. Comr. Fadli Widiyanto said the perpetrators had produced 80 kilograms, or 660,000 pills, of Tramadol and Heximer. They reaped Rp 900 million from each batch produced.
The six people declared suspects in the case have no license for producing drugs. The drugs were produced with hazardous materials and using unhygienic methods. They are thought to have fabricated the genuine drugs produced by PT Dexa Palembang.
The drugs, which have a calming effect and can cause hallucinations, were sold at kiosks forRp 9,000 to Rp 15,000 per strip.
