Article Money Laundering is considered effective in impoverishing drug dealers and couriers

Law enforcement can charge drug couriers and dealers with money laundering as long as the main crime has been proven.

KOMPAS/NORBERTUS ARYA DWIANGGA MARTIAR

Press conference on drug disclosure by the Task Force for the Prevention, Abuse, and Circulation of Narcotics (P3GN) on Tuesday (9/7/2024) at the National Police Criminal Investigation Agency Headquarters, Jakarta.

JAKARTA, KOMPAS — The application of the money laundering article is considered effective in pursuing assets resulting from crime as well as impoverishing couriers and drug dealers. However, action must still be accompanied by strengthening prevention against drug trafficking.

Previously reported, during the nine months since its formation on September 21, 2023, the Task Force for the Eradication, Abuse, and Trafficking of Narcotics (Satgas P3GN) has handled 26,408 drug cases, capturing 38,194 suspects. Of that number, 31,880 are currently under investigation and 6,314 other individuals are undergoing rehabilitation process.

The task force has also successfully seized 4.4 tons of crystal meth, 2.6 million ecstasy pills, 2.1 tons of marijuana, and 11.4 kilograms of cocaine. In addition, the police also confiscated 1.28 tons of gorilla tobacco, 32.2 kg of ketamine, 86 grams of heroin, and over 16.7 million units of hard drugs.

KOMPAS/NIKSON SINAGA

The North Sumatra Regional Police showed hundreds of drug crime perpetrators who were arrested in several areas in Medan on Tuesday (14/5/2024). The police arrested 2,365 perpetrators with evidence of 419.20 kilograms of methamphetamine throughout 2024.

The Director of Drug Crime Brigadier General (Pol) Mukti Juharsa revealed that the police are committed to arresting drug couriers and dealers with money laundering charges. This is because many dealers are still able to keep their drug businesses running even after being caught. Meanwhile, couriers can escalate to become dealers or return to being couriers because the pay is significant.

Criminal law lecturer from Trisakti University, Abdul Fickar Hadjar, stated on Wednesday (10/7/2024) that the implementation of criminal money laundering articles should be appreciated. This is because money laundering can reach the proceeds of crime that the Law on Narcotics previously couldn't touch.

According to Fickar, the Narcotics Law can actually be used to seize assets or money obtained from drug trafficking as long as law enforcement officials can prove the proceeds from drug sales. However, from experience, the Narcotics Law is more often used to prosecute perpetrators and destroy evidence, rather than seize the proceeds of drug sales.

Actually, the Law on Narcotics can be used to seize assets or money from the circulation of narcotics if law enforcement officials can prove the proceeds from drug sales.

To apply money laundering articles, according to Fickar, authorities must first prove the underlying crime, namely drug trafficking. If authorities can apply the money laundering article in a case, efforts to impoverish drug dealers and couriers can be more effective.

"I think this is a good effort because the purpose of criminal law is not only to punish individuals and destroy evidence, but also to take over the assets owned by the perpetrators and then give them to the state," said Fickar.

The same sentiment was expressed by criminologist from the University of Indonesia, Thomas Sunaryo. According to Sunaryo, the desire to impoverish drug dealers and couriers is worthy of support. This is because the circulation of drugs in society has become a worrying specter.

"Drug abuse with its various types has now become a lifestyle. The consumers come from a diverse range of backgrounds. It has become an economically profitable business due to the high number of consumers," said Sunaryo.

The widespread circulation of illegal drugs can be seen from the phenomenon of drug factories being uncovered in various places. Recently, police officers raided a secret laboratory that functioned as a synthetic marijuana factory in Malang City. Last May, authorities also seized a home-based factory producing ecstasy pills in Surabaya City.

In Medan, authorities uncovered a secret laboratory producing ecstasy. Similar drug factories were also uncovered in Tangerang Selatan and North Jakarta. "These are all part of a drug network. Those factories are already like franchise businesses," he said.

KOMPAS/NORBERTUS ARYA DWIANGGA MARTIAR

A room used for processing ecstasy in a house controlled by a drug lord, Freddy Pratama, was found in the Sunter area of North Jakarta on Monday (8/4/2024).

Sunaryo stated that the phenomenon of the proliferation of drug factories shows that drugs are managed by a well-organized organization. Based on existing studies, explained Sunaryo, drug organizations consist of the highest level, namely the boss, then below it are the 'lieutenants'. These 'lieutenants' or field commanders are the ones who then develop and manage drug networks below them.

According to Sunaryo, the bosses or those in the highest positions in the drug trafficking network usually also have legal businesses commonly found in society, such as hotel and trading businesses. Meanwhile, their relationship with field commanders below is either severed or using a cell system. However, according to Sunaryo, they are not hesitant to help the lives of courier families or networks below when the couriers are caught and detained. That is what makes many drug dealers unable to break free from the drug network.

Also read: Bareskrim Ensures Drug Dealers and Couriers Will Be Impoverished

Therefore, Sunaryo hopes that in addition to enforcement, prevention measures will also be taken. If the police are active in law enforcement, the National Narcotics Agency (BNN) is expected to be more active in prevention aspects.