The commemoration of the 81st anniversary of the Republic of\nIndonesia\u2019s independence reminds us that the struggle to safeguard the\nnation is far from over. If the heroes of the past fought to seize and\ndefend independence with blood, tears, and even their lives, then\ntoday\u2019s generation bears a responsibility no less great: to fill that\nindependence by protecting society and the nation\u2019s young people from\nvarious threats, including narcotics.<\/p>\n
Independence is not the finish line of a struggle. Independence is\ninstead the beginning of a greater responsibility: how we protect this\ncountry, safeguard the people, and ensure that the next generation grows\ninto healthy, resilient, productive human beings capable of carrying\nIndonesia towards the vision of a Golden Indonesia 2045.<\/p>\n
The heroes of the past took up arms to fight colonialism. They\nsacrificed their wealth, energy, thoughts, and even their lives for a\nfree nation. The form of our struggle today is different. We no longer\nface colonisers arriving with weapons, but we confront various threats\nthat can weaken the nation from within. One of the most tangible threats\nis narcotics.<\/p>\n
Narcotics do not only damage individual health. Their abuse and\ntrafficking can destroy families, rob the younger generation of its\nfuture, fuel criminality, reduce productivity, and ultimately erode the\nnation\u2019s social resilience at its roots.<\/p>\n
Aceh at a Crossroads: Geographic Blessing and the Narcotics\nThreat<\/p>\n
Aceh occupies a highly strategic geographic position. On one hand,\nthis location is a blessing that opens up great opportunities for\neconomic growth, trade, and connectivity with various regions, both\ndomestic and international.<\/p>\n
On the other hand, however, this geographic position also brings\nvulnerability. The extensive coastline and proximity to international\ntrade and shipping lanes can be exploited by narcotics networks to\nsmuggle illicit goods into Indonesia.<\/p>\n
The threat is not merely a concern. Facts on the ground show that\nnarcotics remain a serious problem that must be faced together.<\/p>\n
Data from the National Narcotics Agency (BNN) indicates a narcotics\nabuse prevalence rate of 2.11 percent, or around 4.15 million\nIndonesians, during the 2023-2025 measurement period. This figure shows\nthat the narcotics problem is not confined to any particular group, but\nis a threat that can touch all layers of society.<\/p>\n
In Aceh, the threat is also reflected in a number of case disclosures\ncarried out by BNN throughout 2026. In January 2026, a joint team from\nBNN RI and Customs foiled the smuggling of 100 kilograms of\nmethamphetamine in Peureulak Timur, East Aceh Regency. In the\ndevelopment of that case, a further 60 kilograms of methamphetamine\nlinked to the same network were discovered, suspected of having\nconnections to the international Golden Triangle syndicate.<\/p>\n
Another disclosure occurred in Bireuen Regency, involving the\ndistribution of 5 kilograms of methamphetamine, followed by the\nuncovering of a case involving 3 kilograms of methamphetamine in July\n2026.<\/p>\n
Ahead of the 81st anniversary of Indonesia\u2019s independence, BNNP Aceh\nalso destroyed a 12-hectare cannabis plantation, with an estimated\n30,000 cannabis plants ready for harvest, in the Blang Meurandeh area,\nBeutong Ateuh Banggalang District, Nagan Raya Regency. In the same\nmonth, BNN Aceh again foiled the distribution of 43 kilograms of\ncannabis in North Aceh Regency.<\/p>\n
This series of disclosures shows that the war against narcotics\nrequires hard work, consistency, and synergy among all elements of the\nnation.<\/p>\n
Every kilogram of methamphetamine whose distribution we successfully\nthwart is not merely a figure in an enforcement report. If used as an\nillustration based on the assumption that one kilogram of\nmethamphetamine could potentially reach around 5,000 people, then the\ndisclosure of 168 kilograms of methamphetamine means there is a\npotential of around 840,000 lives that we can protect from the threat of\nnarcotics abuse.<\/p>\n
Behind those figures are children who can continue to pursue their\ndreams, families that remain intact, and young people who still have the\nopportunity to look towards the future.<\/p>\n
This is the true meaning of every effort to eradicate narcotics:\nsaving human beings.<\/p>\n
Another fact that adds to Aceh\u2019s vulnerability is that around 40\npercent of narcotics, particularly methamphetamine, entering Indonesia\nis suspected to pass through Aceh. This figure should serve as an alarm\nfor all of us. However, that alarm is not meant to frighten, nor to\nstigmatise Aceh. On the contrary, the figure must be a call for all\nAcehnese people to rise and build collective strength.<\/p>\n
Aceh must not be known only as a region vulnerable to the entry of\nnarcotics. Aceh must become the region strongest in fighting against\nthem.<\/p>\n
Do Not Let the Nation\u2019s Children Become Tools of Narcotics\nNetworks<\/p>\n
In various disclosures of narcotics crimes in a number of regions\nacross Indonesia, it is not uncommon to find Acehnese citizens involved\nin narcotics distribution networks, whether as couriers, dealers, or\npart of larger networks. This is where our hearts should be moved.<\/p>\n
To all the people of Aceh, I wish to convey a sincere message: never\nallow ourselves to become part of the hands that destroy our own\nnation.<\/p>\n
Our ancestors fought with great sacrifice for the dignity of Aceh and\nIndonesia. They bequeathed to us honour, courage, and the spirit to\nprotect our homeland.<\/p>\n
Therefore, it is deeply ironic and painful if today there are those\namong us who become couriers, dealers, or drug lords for momentary gain,\nwhile the victims are our own nation\u2019s children.<\/p>\n
Every narcotic distributed through the hands of an Acehnese will\nultimately leave wounds in the midst of Acehnese society itself.<\/p>\n
Do not let our young people be recruited as couriers. Do not let our\ncommunities be exploited by drug lords. And let none of us, consciously\nor unconsciously, turn ourselves into tools for destroying the nation\u2019s\nfuture.<\/p>\n
For the most dangerous enemy is not only the threat that comes from\noutside, but also the threat that grows and develops within our own\nenvironment.<\/p>\n
Do Not Let Us Be Divided<\/p>\n
Amid the very real threat of narcotics, there is one thing we must\nsafeguard together: unity.<\/p>\n
Let us unite against drugs. We may have different political choices.\nWe may have different views. We may have different interests,\nprofessions, and backgrounds. But when facing narcotics, we must have\none voice and one step.<\/p>\n
Let not personal and group interests divide us. Let us not be tempted\nby the lure of instant wealth until we become part of the chain of\nnarcotics distribution.<\/p>\n
Narcotics networks never stop moving. They constantly seek gaps, seek\nvictims, recruit young people, and exploit various social and economic\nvulnerabilities.<\/p>\n
Therefore, we must understand clearly: our enemy is not our fellow\ncountrymen. Our enemy is narcotics and the criminal networks that seek\nto destroy our generation.<\/p>\n
On that basis, I call upon all leaders in Aceh, the ulama, religious\nfigures, community leaders, academics, youth, the education sector, the\nbusiness world, the media, and all levels of society to unite their\nstrength.<\/p>\n
Aceh must not walk alone in facing narcotics. Aceh must move\ntogether.<\/p>\n
Ulama and Community Leaders Are a Moral Force<\/p>\n
Aceh has a long history of the strength, courage, and steadfastness\nof its people. One of Aceh\u2019s greatest strengths is the presence of ulama\nand community leaders who wield strong influence in shaping the\ncharacter and morals of society.<\/p>\n
The war against narcotics cannot rely solely on legal enforcement. We\nneed family resilience, community resilience, character education, the\nstrengthening of religious values, youth empowerment, and the concern of\nall components of society.<\/p>\n
Ulama and community leaders hold a strategic position to continually\nremind the public that narcotics are not merely a legal issue, but also\na humanitarian, moral, family, and generational issue. Therefore, the\nvoices of ulama, community leaders, educators, parents, and all elements\nof society must become a strong fortress so that Aceh\u2019s young generation\nis not easily influenced and recruited by narcotics networks.<\/p>\n
Aceh possesses great social capital. We have religious values,\ncustoms, culture, local wisdom, and a spirit of mutual cooperation that\nhas been passed down from generation to generation.<\/p>\n
This capital must be united into a force to build Aceh Bersinar \u2014 an\nAceh that is clean of narcotics, socially strong, and resilient in\nprotecting its generation.<\/p>\n
In the end, the struggle against narcotics is not only the task of\nBNN, the police, the government, or law enforcement officers. It is the\ntask of all of us.<\/p>\n
If the heroes of the past united to seize independence, then today we\nmust unite to protect that independence so that it is not stolen by\nnarcotics.<\/p>\n
For a strong nation is not one without threats, but one that is able\nto unite in facing every threat.<\/p>\n
Let us protect Aceh. Let us save the young generation. Let us close\nranks. Because unity is strength, and Aceh must unite against drugs.<\/p>\n
Brigadier General of Police Dr.\u00a0Dedy Tabrani, S.I.K., M.Si., Head of\nBNN Aceh Province.<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/unity-is-strength-time-for-aceh-to-unite-against-drugs-1788231162", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }