Jakarta. In 2017, the National Narcotics Agency, or BNN, killed 79 drug dealers in raids across the country, recorded 465,070 drug-related cases, and rehabilitated 1,523 addicts, a top official said on Wednesday (27/12).

"There is a narcotics emergency, we take tougher measures to overcome the crime," BNN head Comr. Gen. Budi Waseso Budi said during a year-end press conference in Jakarta.

Budi said 580,365 people have been arrested this year in drug-related cases.

He added that BNN is closely cooperating with the Directorate General of Customs in combating the crime.

Customs director general Heru Pambudi said the cooperation is necessary, as most of the drugs sold in Indonesia come from abroad.

"We seized 2,2124 tons of narcotics this year, [last year] it was 1.1 tons," he said.

Rehabilitation

President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo last year ordered rehabilitation of 100,000 drug users.

Unfortunately, only 1,523 people could undergo therapy, due to limited availability of beds at rehabilitation centers. However, the quality of rehabilitation programs has improved, Budi said.

"We have improved our facilities in January 2017 … we can guarantee that those who finish the rehabilitation programs are clean [of drugs]."