Indonesia urged to go beyond arrests in tackling drug networks

Beyond apprehending drug traffickers, a sustained and comprehensive approach is crucial to dismantle drug networks and protect communities, particularly in vulnerable areas like Kampung Bahari in North Jakarta. This call emphasizes that legal action must be complemented by breaking up networks, tracking illicit assets, rehabilitating victims, and bolstering the social and economic fabric of affected regions.

Najmi Mumtaza Rabbany, Chairman of the DPP PKB, expressed full support for the National Narcotics Agency's (BNN) efforts in uncovering drug networks in Kampung Bahari. However, he stressed that this is not merely about arrests but a fight for the future of Indonesia's youth. Rabbany highlighted that drug trafficking impacts not only users' health but also family stability and community productivity, necessitating a firm stance against dealers and their networks.

"The state must not hesitate and must not lose. We must be firm against dealers and their networks. Their networks must be broken, their criminal assets must be pursued, and the ecosystem that allows drugs to thrive must be destroyed," Rabbany stated. He also underscored the importance of continuous government presence in areas prone to drug trafficking, arguing that raids alone are insufficient if not followed by measures to prevent networks from reforming.

Rabbany advocated for ongoing surveillance, rehabilitation for drug users, economic empowerment for communities, and protection for children and youth. "We must be hard on dealers, but present for the community. The children and youth of Kampung Bahari must be given space to grow, education, jobs, positive activities, and a better future," he said. The success of drug eradication, he concluded, should be measured not just by the number of arrests but by the government's ability to prevent the re-emergence of drug networks, ensuring that no more "Kampung Baharis" develop in Indonesia.