Number of Drug Addicts Alarming in Papua

Jayapura, Papua, June 30 (Antara) - The National Narcotics Agency (BNN) of the province of Papua has identified around 16,750 drug addicts in that province. "The number includes 5,000 who are not yet regular users with the rest addicts and traffickers," Head of the Papua BNN Police Sr. Comr Antonius Kandarmanta said here on Monday. He described the number as alarming especially as Papua has no rehabilitation facility to treat the addicts , he said. BNN has tried to cope with the problem by launching socialization in various places such as schools and other public places to warn the people against the danger of using drugs, he said. He called for cooperation from all government agencies and community groups to jointly fight drug trafficking in Papua. He said the main type of narcotics used in the region is marijuana smuggled in from Papua New Guinea.