The Tabanan police department has confirmed that most arrested drug traffickers used to work in the tourism sector.
The Head of the Tabanan Narcotic Investigation Bureau, AKP I Gede Sudiantara Putra, confirmed that the surge of narcotic cases in the Tabanan region is an effect of the Covid-19 pandemic. This is because the pandemic caused many tourism workers to lose their jobs.
“The current financial crisis has caused the number of drug traffickers in Tabanan to rise. The number of traffickers is even bigger than the consumers,” AKP Sudiantara said on Friday (17/12).
Meanwhile, the Head of the Tabanan Police Department, AKBP Ranefli Dian Candra, stated that the number of narcotic cases in Bali has increased over the past year.
Many of them were tempted to get involved in this illegal business as they made easy cash from every transaction they made. This is after they got laid off and became unable to provide for their families.
“From 31 narcotic cases in 2020, we have 39 cases this year. That’s around a 30 percent increase,” AKBP Candra said. The Tabanan police department also seized more evidence this year compared to 2020.
“We’ve managed to seize a lot more evidence such as meth, marijuana, and ecstasy during our operations this year. The number of drug traffickers arrested has also surged, from only 12 suspects in 2020 to 43 suspects this year,” AKBP Candra concluded.
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Wayan Bo
Tuesday 21st of December 2021
They should better start to grove mangoes for export to Europe, in Europe are mostly only mangoes from Brazil available, Balinese mangoes are much better.
J West
Tuesday 21st of December 2021
High crime, including drugs, theft , extortion and even murder are spiking worldwide in countries hit by Covid and where bureaucrats are too lazy and too corrupt to look past the tourism industry collapse and plan instead towards retraining workers into alternative employment other than bed-making and serving foreign liquor pigs. Why not a bold move into an economy where tourists are incidental rather than a mainstay? Governments must start developing contingencies around the idea that tourism and travel are not going to come back. As for a sudden opening of the travel-gates , forget it, the Covid Virus was designed to mutate and what we’re seeing is only the beginning of the pandemic. For those thinking that Thailand is open and an “example to the world”, forget that, we’re starting another lockdown incrementally and panic is setting in. If you don’t want to be stuck in a quarantine hotel , don’t come.
Heinz Schirmaier
Tuesday 21st of December 2021
What does the government expect, these peoples families have to eat also and the government does nothing to help. Bali borders should be open to foreign nationals who have proof of the 2 vaccinations. Totally irresponsible of the government to keep the borders closed and forcing foreign tourists to go somewhere else and never come back.
Kevin Skinner
Monday 20th of December 2021
I Have a Wife and a 2yr old Son ( Who I have Never Seen ) Who Both Live in Bali and Who I Am Supporting along With The Rest of Her Family Who Havent Had Any Work For 2yrs (I Am Australian) Myself and Friends Usually Travel to Bali at Least 5 or 6 Times a Year But Until All This Stupid Quarantine,Visa and Insurances Stop We Are Going to Puket Thailand for Xmas Not Bali as Usual.My Group of Friends Have Also Been Supporting 4 Families in Bali as The Useless Indonesian Government Does Nothing for Their People are Withdrawing this Support After Xmas They Are Not Going to Keep Paying Money Every Month To Help These Families While Woko DoDo Does Nothing to Get Tourists Back except Make it Harder We are Fully Vaccinated Plus Booster Shots More than the Normal Balinese Person Yet Are Restricted in Travelling to Bali Ridiculous
Wayan Bo
Tuesday 21st of December 2021
@Paul Morris, fine that You are supporting Balinese family's, why then they don’t produce for example canned fish for export, there is no canned fish from Indonesia known in Europe or perhaps elsewhere. Or let them produce Cuban style cigars. Or Krupuk, or … there are plenty possibilities to help them to build there own income.
Paul Morris
Tuesday 21st of December 2021
@Kevin Skinner, We also have been supporting several Balinese families since the start of the pandemic and I agree with you that the government has not helped their people since the start of this mess, with this new variant spreading around the world at lightening speed it will not be long before it arrives in Bali and unfortunately a large number of Balinese have been vaccinated with Sinovac which only had an efficacy of 50.2% against the original virus not omicron. It is impossible for the Balinese people to keep going without any support from the government as we too cannot keep helping forever and my heart breaks at the thought of abandoning them in their hour of need, my wife and I are both vaccinated with our booster shot due early January and for the life of me I can’t understand why the government has imposed such ridiculous conditions of entry otherwise we would also be there spending our money and enjoying the beautiful island and it’s people.
Over to you Randy I’m sure you’ll have something to say 😂😂😂😂
Heinz Schirmaier
Tuesday 21st of December 2021
@Kevin Skinner, totally agree with you, I'm in pretty much same position as you and will have to wait until this useless Indonesian government comes to it's senses.
Wayan Bo
Tuesday 21st of December 2021
@Kevin Skinner, should know that current vaccines works 0% against Omicron and that Omicron isn’t easier than Delta. - Australia have beautiful beaches too.