Indonesia, narcotics exporter

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