President Agrees To Upgrade BNN To Ministerial Level: Budi Waseso

Palembang, S Sumatra (Antara Bali) - The chief of the National Narcotic Agency (BNN), Commissioner General Budi Waseso, said President Joko Widodo has agreed to give more powers to BNN and upgrade it to ministerial level.

"The President has agreed. The move is just waiting for a legal umbrella. Let us just wait," he said after a dialogue with thousands of students of Islamic Raden Fatah University here on Tuesday.

He said President Joko Widodo wished to give more powers to the BNN to enable it to ramp up its fight against narcotic distribution.

"My position as of now is equal to that of a director general and I sometimes face a difficult situation when I have to take a decision. If the state considers the narcotic problem a serious one, then the BNN must be given more authority," he said.

"I do not seek a position. I am here only to serve. It is an institutional issue and has nothing to do with rank. I will remain a three-star officer and will not become a four-star one," he said.

He said the drug problem must not be ignored because it is affecting the sovereignty of the nation, adding that there is no region in the country that has not been affected by the problem.

According to the BNN's data, 40 to 50 people die every day in the country because of narcotic drugs and five million people have been recorded as active users.

"Narcotic drugs must be fought. Indonesia must not give in because it affects the country's younger generation," he said. (WDY)