Papua to intensify drug war

JAYAPURA, Papua: Papua governor JP Salossa inaugurated on Thursday his deputy Constan Karma as the chairman of Papua Anti- Drug Body.

The body is established to deal the problem of drug abuse that begun to plague Papua, the country's easternmost province.

"Papua is facing the danger of drug abuse. We have often heard reports that hashish is being transported from the Papua New Guinea to Papua, while other illicit hallucinogens were often sent to Java.

We have to intensify the war on drugs," said Salossa.

Last year, 24 drug suspects were arrested by Papua provincial police, two were Papua New Guinea nationals.

From them, the police seized hashish and ecstasy.

Constan said that he would step up surveillance on the influx of drugs. -- JP