The International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking (HANI) is commemorated on June 26 each year. The chosen theme for this year, “The evidence is clear: invest in prevention,” underscores the priority of preventive actions in addressing drug abuse. A key aspect of these efforts is the prevention of drug entry into Indonesia, a responsibility overseen by the Customs and Excise Office.
Functioning as the guardian of the community, the Customs and Excise Office holds the authority to oversee and implement measures to shield the public from the infiltration of illicit substances, including narcotics, psychotropics, and precursor (PPP) chemicals. Given Indonesia’s strategic geographical location, the country has become both a transit point and a target for drug distribution. As the vigilant protector of the national border, the Customs and Excise Office plays a vital role in reducing the supply of drugs, aiming to disrupt the drug supply chain from producers to distribution networks.
Encep Dudi Ginanjar, the head of the Public Relations and Customs Counselling Subdirectorate at the Customs and Excise Directorate General, underscored the office’s dedication to detecting and foiling attempts to smuggle narcotics and precursor substances into Indonesian regions. As of June 23, 2024, the customs office had processed 580 cases of NPP abuse, leading to the confiscation of 2.94 tonnes of evidence. Moreover, in 2023, the Customs and Excise Office handled 956 drug cases, resulting in the seizure of 5,977,587.39 grams of evidence. These actions have not only saved lives but have also potentially preserved state funds through rehabilitation programs for drug abuse. Encep emphasized the essential nature of collaborative efforts in combating NPP-related crimes, an extraordinary crime with a widespread and systematic distribution network.
To address this issue, the Customs and Excise Directorate General collaborates with various law enforcement agencies in Indonesia, as per Presidential Instruction (Inpres) No. 2/2020. The Customs Office engages in partnerships with the National Narcotics Agency (BNN) and the National Police to exchange information, conduct joint operations, and enhance human resource capacity and capabilities, such as police dog units.
Encep highlighted the significance of coordination and collaboration in optimizing safety and supervision related to the movement of goods to and from Indonesia, particularly in preventive measures against narcotics. The spirit of HANI 2024 calls for the establishment of stronger synergy between the Customs and Excise Directorate General, other law enforcement officers, and the public in the fight against the abuse and black market trade of narcotics.
Published in collaboration with the Finance Ministry, this article from the Customs and Excise Office welcomes the sharing of experiences, suggestions, and encountered issues, and highly values public feedback. As part of its commitment to public protection, the Customs and Excise Office remains dedicated to addressing drug abuse and illicit trafficking through preventive measures and collaboration with law enforcement agencies, fostering a safer environment for all.
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