Police Propose Limits on Narcotics Possession to Distinguish Users from Dealers

Jakarta (ANTARA) - Director of Narcotics Crimes at the National Police Criminal Investigation Agency, Brigadier General Eko Hadi, has proposed that the Narcotics and Psychotropics Bill include possession threshold limits to distinguish between victims of abuse and drug dealers. Eko stated that Law Number 35 of 2009 on Narcotics mandates medical and social rehabilitation for addicts and victims of abuse. However, the regulation does not yet explicitly stipulate possession quantity limits to differentiate users from distributors. “The police have put forward a proposal regarding lower threshold figures compared to the initial draft. This proposal is based on several considerations,” Eko said during a discussion meeting on the Narcotics and Psychotropics Bill with Commission III of the House of Representatives at the parliamentary complex in Jakarta on Tuesday. He explained that the determination of thresholds for users who are rehabilitated has so far referred to Supreme Court Circular Number 4 of 2010. However, that provision is only binding internally within the Supreme Court and the judicial process. For methamphetamine, a limit of 1 gram is proposed (previously 8.4 grams), 5 ecstasy pills (previously 10 pills), 1.5 grams for heroin (previously 5 grams), and for etomidate, which was previously unregulated, 0.5 grams is proposed. According to him, the proposal refers to experiences in handling narcotics cases against users and laboratory test results. The threshold figures represent the average daily consumption amount for one person. In addition, this policy is expected to reduce the risk of dependency, overdose, and provide certainty in handling narcotics cases. “With the inclusion of these threshold provisions, it is hoped that there will no longer be doubts in distinguishing the handling between victims of abuse and narcotics dealers,” he said.