Indonesiantalk.com –– IDEC XXXVII 2023: DISRUPTING TRANSNATIONAL CRIMINAL ORGANIZATIONS AND THEIR SUPPLY CHAINS
Montego Bay, Jamaica – September 19-21, 2023 — The theme of “Disrupting Transnational Criminal Organizations and their Supply Chains” took center stage at the International Drug Enforcement Conference (IDEC) XXXVII 2023, held from September 19 to 21, 2023, at the Montego Bay Convention Centre in Jamaica. The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) first organized this international law enforcement conference in Panama in 1983.
Over 40 years of IDEC’s existence have had a profoundly significant impact on global trends in drug abuse and illicit drug trafficking. With 334 DEA offices worldwide, concerted efforts are being made to combat drug abuse and illicit narcotics trafficking on a global scale. These sentiments were conveyed by Anne Milgram, the Drug Enforcement Administration & Co-President of IDEC XXXVII 2023, during her welcome remarks at the opening of IDEC 2023.
At IDEC XXXVII 2023, the Indonesian delegation is led by the Head of Indonesia’s National Narcotics Agency (BNN RI), Commissioner General Prof. Dr. Petrus Reinhard Golose, accompanied by the Deputy for Drug Eradication of BNN, Inspector General Pol. I Wayan Sugiri, S.H., S.I.K., M.Si., and the Director of Intelligence, Deputy for Drug Eradication of BNN, Police Brigadier General Pol. Ruddi Setiawan, S.H., S.I.K., M.H., along with 138 other nations, totaling 450 participants. These individuals are dedicated to addressing the issue of narcotics in their respective countries.
Anne Milgram emphasized that IDEC will focus on discussions about NPS, especially Fentanyl, an opioid often used as an analgesic or pain reliever. In her presentation, she highlighted the widespread distribution of Fentanyl in the Americas. Furthermore, she added that there are several international narcotic cartel networks currently in operation, including the Sinaloa Cartel and the Jalisco Cartel. The Sinaloa Cartel dominates the black market in the Americas, covering countries like Brazil, Paraguay, Panama, and Canada. Meanwhile, the Jalisco Cartel controls the illicit drug market in Turkey and Kenya.
Despite Indonesia not yet being affected by cartels distributing Fentanyl, the country must remain vigilant. Fentanyl abuse is exceptionally lethal, with Anne Milgram stating that it can take a person’s life with just a 2-milligram dose. In 2022, the United States recorded 110,684 drug-related deaths, with Fentanyl being one of the major contributors to this alarming statistic, alongside increasing cocaine use.
In response to these challenges, it is imperative that countries intensify cooperation and coordination in the fight against drug-related issues, including Indonesia. With the presence of BNN RI in these bilateral meetings, it is hoped that Indonesia can forge stronger international partnerships to safeguard national sovereignty against the serious threat of illicit drug trafficking.
