Despite harsh penalties imposed on drug dealers, the death toll from drug abuse continues to increase.

The head of the National Narcotics Agency (BNN), Comr. Gen. Anang Iskandar, revealed that the current prevalence of drug abuse in the country had reached 4 million, or 2.18 percent of the total population, up from 1.99 percent in 2008.

'€œFrom that number, an average of 33 people die due to narcotics every day,'€ he said at a seminar on narcotics, rehabilitation and the death row in Surabaya, East Java, on Wednesday.

Anang said that drug cases had inflicted enormous economic losses.

'€œThe value reaches Rp 63 trillion (US$4.76 billion),'€ he said as quoted by tribunnews.com.

That is why President Joko '€œJokowi'€ Widodo has declared a drug emergency, called for maximum penalties (death row) for drug dealers and producers and rejected clemency pleas, he said.

'€œWhen drug traffickers, dealers and producers are sentenced to death, the attorney general has been instructed to execute the death sentence immediately,'€ he added.

A number of people, mostly foreigners sentenced to death for drug trafficking, were recently executed on Nusakambangan Island in Central Java, with more death row inmates expected to face the firing squad in the future. (rms)(+++)

Popular

Java airports grounded by low demand, poor planning

Rethinking ocean finance

Trump says Indonesia to face 19 percent tariff under trade deal