Customs Authority Urges Chemical Sellers to Remain Alert Against Drug Misuse
Jakarta — The Directorate General of Customs and Excise under the Ministry of Finance has requested that chemical sellers exercise greater attentiveness and sensitivity towards their buyers in order to prevent drug misuse.
The Director of Narcotics Interdiction at the Customs Directorate General, Syarif Hidayat, stated that many parties are currently misusing the purchase of chemicals to manufacture narcotics, particularly mephedrone.
“If goods are purchased by pharmaceutical industries, that is normal. However, if the buyer is an individual, there needs to be attention paid and the matter should be reported to our colleagues at the BNN,” said Syarif during a press conference on narcotic evidence destruction in Jakarta on Tuesday.
Mephedrone is a synthetic psychoactive substance belonging to the cathinone class. In Indonesia, mephedrone is classified as a Class I narcotic due to its potent stimulant effects and high dependency potential.
In the process of mephedrone manufacturing, Syarif stated that the required chemicals not only originate from abroad but largely come from within the country. These chemicals can be purchased from major pharmaceutical distributors and chemical distributors, making this a matter of collective concern.
Meanwhile, chemical precursors for mephedrone production that were brought in from overseas were recently uncovered in a clandestine laboratory in Bali. The discovery of that laboratory stemmed from information provided by Customs at Soekarno Hatta, Banten, where chemical shipments capable of being converted into narcotics were identified.
“It is certainly concerning to us that not only are they importing narcotics, but in recent years they have also been importing chemicals that can be turned into narcotics, primarily for the manufacture of mephedrone,” Syarif stated.
Syarif affirmed that his agency will continue to work closely with the National Narcotics Board (BNN) in uncovering and resolving various narcotics cases in Indonesia.
In oversight of narcotics, psychotropic substances, and precursors, Customs works intensively with law enforcement and the BNN through information sharing, joint analysis, field operations, and joint evidence destruction.
“This evidence destruction announcement represents the accountability of the BNN and Customs to the nation and society to ensure that narcotics are destroyed and will not circulate in the community again,” Syarif concluded.