Parliament Urges BNN to Crack Down on Illegal Tramadol Circulation

Member of Commission III of the House of Representatives from the Gerindra Faction, Bimantoro Wiyono, has urged the National Narcotics Agency (BNN) and the National Police to take a firm stance against the illegal circulation and misuse of the strong drug tramadol.

Bimantoro expressed this during a Commission III House of Representatives meeting with BNN and the Narcotics Crime Directorate of National Police Headquarters in Jakarta on Tuesday (7/4).

Bimantoro stated that the misuse of tramadol in society has reached an alarming stage.

“The transactions are extremely overt on the roadside, in the middle of markets, right? In the midst of crowds. And we hope this must be eradicated immediately,” said Bimantoro.

He claimed to have received input from the public who are anxious about the circulation of tramadol. On the other hand, he acknowledged that enforcement remains a contentious issue.

“It was also conveyed earlier by the BNN leadership that it is a contentious issue in society with tramadol circulating so easily in the community,” he said.

However, Bimantoro hopes that law enforcement agencies, particularly the Police and BNN, will carry out supervision. Because, in certain amounts, its use can be dangerous if left unchecked.

“I am confident that even though this is a strong drug, if misused, it will also become a danger in certain doses,” he said.

Tramadol is an analgesic or pain-relieving drug that works on the central nervous system and is classified as a synthetic opioid. It is usually used to alleviate moderate to severe pain, such as post-operative pain.

Previously, the Head of BNN, Police General Suyudi Ario Seto, stated that tramadol is not classified as a narcotic or psychotropic. Its status is as a strong drug that may only be used with a doctor’s prescription.

According to Suyudi, because tramadol is not a narcotic or psychotropic, the primary authority for supervision lies with the Food and Drug Supervisory Agency (BPOM) and the Ministry of Health, while BNN focuses more on monitoring trends of misuse.

“Due to its effects that work on the central nervous system (opioid) and have the potential to cause dependency (euphoria), this drug is strictly monitored by BNN and BPOM,” he said.