Bali hosts int’l conference on drugs

Nusa Dua: Bali will host the 29th International Drug Enforcement Conference in Nusa Dua on Monday, June 11. Gories Mere, chairman of the National Narcotics Agency, said the conference had been held for 28 years, previously in European countries and the US.

“Indonesia is honored to host the conference for the first time in 28 years,” Mere told reporters on Friday.

Around 339 participants from 180 countries will take part in the conference, which will discuss the most effective strategy to combat global and regional narcotic syndicates.

Exchanging information and knowledge is important to keep up with the spiraling drug trafficking around the world.

“The global traffic of certain drugs, including amphetamine type stimulants (ATS), has been increasing three-fold over the last few years, while marijuana, heroin and morphine drug transactions have also doubled,” he added.

In Indonesia, there are 58 persons, including foreigners, who are facing the death penalty on charges of trafficking and using drugs.

Commenting on the president’s clemency given to Australian drug convict Schapelle Leigh Corby, Mere said it would not deter Indonesian law enforcers from fighting against drug traffickers.