Indonesian anti-drugs chief warns against foreign boyfriends

JAKARTA, Indonesia – Indonesia’s anti-narcotics chief Friday, June 26, warned women in the country to be careful when dating foreigners, suggesting they could be tricked into becoming drug mules.

The remarks were the latest salvo in Indonesia’s war on narcotics and came after eight drug convicts, including seven foreigners, were put to death by firing squad in April, sparking international anger.

Head of the national anti-drugs agency, Anang Iskandar, said that many Indonesian women were languishing in prisons abroad because they were “easily tricked into drug-trafficking.” 

“Do not be careless in relationships with foreigners,” he warned in comments to reporters in Jakarta to mark the United Nations International Day Against Drug Abuse. 

“They give gifts of plane tickets, you have just got to know them and started dating. It is easy to be tempted, you have to be careful.”

Indonesia has faced criticism for focusing heavily on the role of foreigners in the country’s drug problems, and failing to do enough to combat official complicity in the illicit trade. 

However President Joko Widodo on Friday vowed to focus more on Indonesian security officials involved in drug-dealing and prisons where criminals run narcotics networks from behind bars. 

He also reiterated his tough stance, saying: “Drug abuse is destroying the future generation. There is no other option than to declare a war on drugs.”

Since taking office last year, Widodo has been a vocal supporter of the death penalty for drug offences, rejecting clemency pleas for narcotics convicts on death row.

He says dozens of people die every day due to drugs in Indonesia but observers have questioned his claims, and believe he is more focused on looking tough and regaining popularity after political missteps.

French drug convict Serge Atlaoui, who was originally due to be executed in April, this week lost an appeal against his death sentence and Jakarta says he has no more legal options to avoid the firing squad. – Rappler.com