Knowledge Share

Drug-related crime remains a major challenge for many countries, including Indonesia. The concept of reducing drug-related crime refers to efforts aimed at lowering crime rates that are directly or indirectly triggered by the abuse and trafficking of narcotics. This approach not only emphasizes law enforcement against drug dealers and criminal syndicates, but also includes preventive strategies, user rehabilitation, disruption of criminal networks, and community-based interventions.

Community-Based Corrections (CBC) is an effective alternative to imprisonment, especially for minor offenders. This approach provides minor offenders with a valuable opportunity to amend their criminal behavior within the community, thereby reducing stigma and marginalization while sidestepping the often punitive nature of incarceration.

Geographically, Indonesian archipelago is vulnerable to illicit drug trafficking as it is located at a very strategic location, that is the intersection of two oceans and two continents, lays on a trading route with a very high traffic of people and goods. Indonesia consists of 17,508 islands by the coastal line as 85.000 km long and has a great of population which has reached 279 million of people.

Talking Points: Learn about the connection between drug use and crime. Identify key legal distinctions that (should) drive justice responses. Understand how applying the appropriate approach reduces crime.

Every year, over 6 million persons globally are in contact with the criminal justice system for drug-related offences. Significant increases in prison populations worldwide are largely caused by the arrest and incarceration of persons whose crimes are related to drug use. Many countries are exploring different options to reduce crime and incarceration through the use of community-based drug treatment.

Indonesia confronts significant challenges from widespread drug abuse, impacting public health and leading to high incarceration rates. As of July 2025, the National Narcotics Board (BNN) reports 3.3 million narcotics addicts, with over 147,000 drug offenders constituting 53% of the Indonesian prison population.