Indonesia, narcotics exporter

A recent police raid on an ecstasy factory in Tangerang indicates that Indonesia has become an exporter of ecstasy, and not merely a destination or transit point for drug trafficking.

The massive profits enjoyed by those in the narcotics trade has encouraged drug traffickers and producers to develop their operations in Indonesia. In six months, the ecstasy factory in Tangerang could makes billions of rupiah in profit by producing 150,000 ecstasy pills that could be sold for between Rp 50,000 and Rp 70,000 each.

These enticing profits draws people into the drug trade, regardless of the fate of drug addicts. On the contrary, the more drug addicts become their customers the happier they are.

Large bribes offered by drug traffickers seem to have lured some law enforcers, especially those with small incomes. At least, the light sentences given to drug traffickers makes the public suspect that law enforcers have taken bribes.

The court's leniency on traffickers has put the nation's survival at stake, because most of the victims of narcotic are of productive age. Narcotics have nipped the country's youth in the bud. The presence of narcotics exporters has only added to the embarrassing reputation of the nation.

-- Republika, Jakarta