inp.polri.go.id - Jakarta. Directorate of Drug Investigation Unit from National Police's Criminal Investigation Agency, Brigadier General. Pol. Krisno Halomoan Siregar, explained that drug cases throughout 2021 decreased in quantity but increased in Quality. Based on data released at the National Police Headquarters, in 2021, the Directorate of Drug Investigation Unit from the National Police's Criminal Investigation Agency revealed as many as 127 cases. However, this figure has decreased by 18 percent compared to the disclosure in 2020 of 104 cases. Meanwhile, the number of suspects increased by 2 percent, with the number of suspects in 2021 as many as 233 people, while in 2020 as many as 228 people. "Although there was a decrease in the number of cases, in terms of Quality, there was an increase in the confiscation of evidence. This means that there has been a very, very significant increase during the COVID-19 pandemic," explained the Directorate of Drug Investigation Unit from the National Police's Criminal Investigation Agency. The One Star General also revealed that the first type of narcotics most confiscated was shabu-shabu. Next, there was an increase in the amount of confiscated methamphetamine. In 2020 as many as 627,977.20 grams, while in 2021, it was 1,674,951.48 grams. There was an increase of 166 percent. Then, 799,166.40 grams of marijuana type narcotics were confiscated in 2021, increasing 124 percent compared to 2020, which was 357,214.56 grams. The third position is the increasing number of evidence, hard drugs, in 2020 as many as 1,704 items, in 2021 soaring sharply to 48,188,000 items. "A more significant increase is related to the disclosure of two lab factories producing strong drugs in Yogyakarta," he explained further. The former Director of Drug Research and Investigation Agency at the Central Java Regional Police also explained that the increasing Quality of drug cases was related to the COVID-19 pandemic. As a result, the movement of people in entertainment venues was restricted. For example, the use and distribution of methamphetamine, which was usually in entertainment venues, has now shifted to other places such as hotels and residences. "This amfetamine is a stimulant, so no, they (abusers) don't need to be frenetic and so on. So, it can be misused in hotel rooms, residences, in places that do not require frenetic or nightly entertainment," he concluded. (my/bq/hy)