Jakarta (ANTARA) - Indonesia and Russia have agreed to strengthen cooperation to check the illicit trafficking of narcotics, especially with the involvement of Russian networks, through the exchange of information to assist investigations.
Head of the National Narcotics Agency (BNN), Commissioner General Marthinus Hukom, said that there are several narcotics cases in Indonesia involving Russian networks, especially in Bali province.
In 2023, more than 40 thousand Russian citizens visited Bali for various purposes.
"It is very unlucky that some of them were involved in drug abuse and illicit drug trafficking cases," he told the Russian Ambassador to Indonesia, Sergei Gennadievich Tolchenov, in his office on Monday, according to a statement issued by BNN.
In response, Ambassador Tolchenov conveyed the Russian government's willingness to cooperate with Indonesia.
He said that his party is ready to work with Indonesia through the exchange of information to assist investigations.
In addition, the Russian government is willing to share information and knowledge on handling narcotics issues, especially the modes used frequently by Russian networks.
Tolchenov expressed the hope that the bilateral cooperation on drug eradication would strengthen preventive and repressive measures to tackle drug abuse and narrow the activity of international networks involved in cross-border drug trafficking.
Baca juga: Ada dua sebab anak muda terjerumus penyalahgunaan narkoba
"We are ready to work with Indonesia. We believe that cross-border drug trafficking prevention and eradication is a real form of cooperation between Indonesia and Russia," he added.
The meeting, which took place at the BNN Building, discussed several issues related to increasing cooperation between Indonesia and Russia in eradicating illicit narcotics trafficking.
Baca juga: BNN musnahkan narkoba berpotensi ancam 1,1 juta jiwa masyarakat Indonesia
The meeting was an important step in strengthening collaboration between the two countries in efforts to combat transnational crime, especially in the context of drug abuse and trafficking, which are continuing to grow.
