Inp.polri.go.id - Jakarta. Erwedi Supriyatno, the Acting Director of Security and Intelligence at the Ministry of Law and Human Rights, disclosed on Tuesday (23/4/2024) that 52.97 percent of inmates, both convicts and detainees, were implicated in drug-related incidents.

This statistic reflects the prevalence of drug abuse within the prison system, he said as reported by antaranews.com.

Out of the total 271,385 inmates, 135,823 are convicted or detained due to drug-related offenses. 

Erwedi emphasized the concerning aspect of more than half of the prison population being associated with drug use or abuse.

He highlighted the overcrowding issue, with the current number of inmates exceeding the prison capacity by 97 percent. 

This overcrowding exacerbates the challenges faced by prison officers, who must not only address drug-related cases but also tackle other criminal offenses and potential terrorism threats.

Erwedi acknowledged the presence of drug networks within prisons due to communication devices still accessible to inmates. 

He cited the case of Medan Prison, housing 3,000 individuals with only 24 guards on duty per day, a situation far from optimal.

(mg/inp/pr/nm)