Lagos – The Indonesian Ambassador to Nigeria, Amb. Harry Purwanto, on Monday reiterated his government’s National Narcotic Drug organisation’s readiness to collaborate with the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency(NDLEA), to curb the activities of drug traffickers.
Purwanto told the News Agency of Nigeria(NAN)in Lagos that it was imperative for Nigeria and Indonesia to jointly resist illicit production, manufacturing and trafficking in narcotics and other related drugs.
The Ambassador recalled that the Nigerian and Indonesian governments had in 2013 signed a Memorandum of Understanding(MOU) for cooperation in the elimination of drug trafficking activities between the two countries.
“Especially now that my President is really out to sanction and persecute traffickers of narcotics and other drug substances, the Indonesian government would be very willing to collaborate with the NDLEA.
“Indonesia will be willing to cooperate with the NDLEA in combating the illicit production, manufacturing and trafficking in narcotic drugs and other related substances between our two countries,’’ he said.
Purwanto said that the increasing spate of drug trafficking had recently forced his President to reintroduce the death penalty for persons arrested for drug trafficking.
He said that President Joko Widodo had decided to reject any clemency request from those who are on death row for drug-related convictions.
According to him, the death penalty has been in the Indonesian penal code and legal system since 1945.
“The application of the death penalty in Indonesia is within the scope and consistent with Article 6 (2) of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR).
“Between 2008 and 2013, Indonesia unilaterally implemented a moratorium on the death penalty.
“Afterward, Indonesia has to reintroduce the death penalty because it is dictated by the aggravated situation affecting its society as a result of those crimes,’’ he said.
The Envoy said that due to his government’s current stance against drug trafficking, it was important that the Indonesian National Narcotic Drug Organisation and the NDLEA are able to work together.
He said that the cooperation would enable both regulatory agencies to effectively monitor the movement of illicit drugs, as well as sensitise traffickers on the consequences of their criminal acts. (NAN)