Govt to form National Narcotics Agency

Govt to form National Narcotics Agency

JAKARTA: In a bid to curb rampant narcotics abuse and trafficking, the government will soon form a National Narcotics Agency (BNN) whi will be equipped with power to take legal steps against both users and traders.

"The formation of BNN is still being discussed by the state secretariate, police headquarters, customs and excise directorate general and state intelligence agency (BIN)," State Minister for Administrative Reform Feisal Tamin said here Thursday.

Feisal said BNN, which will replace existing National Narcotics Coordination Agency (KBNN), would be allowed to take legal and operation steps to fight against thriving narcotics trade in the country.

Data issued by a number of non-governmental organizations in 2000 showed that 3.4 million people nation-wide were drug users, including narcotic adicts, rising by a whopping 70 percent from 1999 statistics.