Anti-Drug Task Force Officially Established, Riau Mobilises in Unison Against NAPZA

Riau Provincial Police, the Indonesian National Armed Forces, the Riau Provincial Government, and the ranks of the Coordination Forum for National and Political Stability (Forkopimda) have officially established the Anti-Drug Task Force as a concrete step to strengthen the region against the dangers of narcotics. This strategic initiative represents a tangible commitment from all elements of society to collectively combat drugs in the Land of the Lancang Kuning.

The Anti-Drug Task Force was inaugurated during a readiness parade held at the Riau Governor’s office in Pekanbaru on Saturday (25/4/2026). The event was attended by Acting Governor of Riau SF Haryanto, Riau Police Chief Inspector General Pol Herry Heryawan, Commander of Kodam XIX/Tuanku Tambusai Major General TNI Agus Hadi Waluyo, Head of the Riau Attorney General’s Office I Dewa Gede Wirajana, Commander of Korem 031/Wira Bima Brigadier General TNI Agustatius Sitepu, Acting Head of the National Narcotics Agency (BNNP) Riau Police Commissioner Ali Machfud, Secretary of the Riau Regional Representative Council of the Indonesian Ulema Council Datuk Toni Werdiansyah, General Chairman of the National Anti-Drug Movement (GRANAT) DPP Henry Yosodiningrat, anti-drug ambassadors, and residents including the mothers of Panipahan, Rokan Hilir Regency.

Acting Governor of Riau SF Haryanto expressed his appreciation for the formation of the Anti-Drug Task Force. According to him, drugs are organised crimes that endanger the nation’s youth.

“The Anti-Drug Task Force works for the welfare and sincerity to save our society in Riau Province, and this activity is one of the anticipations against drug crimes. Today we are forming a task force that we hope will carry out its duties to save Riau’s society,” said SF Haryanto.

On the same occasion, Riau Police Chief Inspector General Pol Herry Heryawan stated that the formation of the Anti-Drug Task Force is a strategic step in combating drugs. According to him, drug eradication efforts cannot be done partially but require commitment and collaboration from all elements of the nation.

Inspector General Herry mentioned the incident that occurred in Panipahan Village, Pasir Limau Kapas Subdistrict, Rokan Hilir Regency some time ago as a collective wake-up call for all parties to act together in eradicating drugs.

“The incident in Panipahan is a wake-up call that wakes us all up, and this is a shared responsibility, not just the government’s, not just the task of the Kodam Commander or Police Chief, but this is a collective task,” said Inspector General Herry.

With the official establishment of the Anti-Drug Task Force, all Forkopimda ranks will form posts that will operate collaboratively in providing education as a preemptive and preventive measure. The Anti-Drug Task Force not only involves law enforcement agencies but also all layers of society up to the education sphere, involving school principals and OSIS chairmen, communities such as business actors and online motorcycle taxis (ojol), and also the mothers of Panipahan as Anti-Drug Ambassadors.

The Anti-Drug Task Force complements the preemptive and preventive efforts of Riau Provincial Police, which previously formed Resilient Anti-Drug Villages and appointed 32 Anti-Drug Ambassadors.

“We hope this strategically valuable activity can suppress the rate of drug abuse in Riau Province and eradicate drugs by carrying out fair and measured law enforcement,” he added.

Meanwhile, Commander of Kodam XIX/Tuanku Tambusai Major General TNI Agus Hadi Waluyo stated that this activity is not merely ceremonial but a manifestation of collective commitment in combating drugs.

“So I greatly appreciate and am very inspired—wake-up call—as mentioned by the Police Chief, so that we all move in all aspects of community life to collectively eradicate drugs. Say no to drugs, say yes to life,” said Agus Hadi.

GRANAT DPP General Chairman Henry Yosodiningrat expressed his appreciation for the formation of the Anti-Drug Task Force in Riau Province. According to him, the establishment of this task force is an extraordinary effort to eradicate narcotics, which is an extraordinary crime.

“Narcotics crime is an international crime, an international syndicate that is systematic, structured, and with ever-changing modus operandi. It is hoped that with an extraordinary method, all societal forces unite. GRANAT with all elements of society fully supports it,” said Henry.

On the same occasion, Santi Sinaga, a mother from Panipahan who was appointed as an Anti-Drug Ambassador, expressed the same spirit in combating drugs. She hopes that all authorities will act firmly against drug perpetrators who have destroyed the young generation, especially in her village.

“So, we want it to be resolved from the leaves, branches, tree, and roots. Because we feel restless seeing our children become victims, because in this area there are already many victims. We are glad that the Police Chief came (to Panipahan), we are proud, so we ask the Police Chief to really, especially the dealers, we don’t want drug circulation to be ‘easy’ there,” said Santi.