Indonesia: BNN Chief Settles on East Java Island for Drug Prison

Kerobokan prison, on Bali Island, Indonesia

Jakarta. Indonesia’s controversial anti-narcotics czar says he has found the ideally located island on which to build a prison for drug offenders – but that the lack of native wildlife is somewhat of a downer.

Budi Waseso, the National Narcotics Agency (BNN) chief, has raised eyebrows with his plans for an isolated drug prison guarded by crocodiles, tigers and piranhas, and on Thursday said he had found a great location – the island of Kangean off the coast of East Java’s Sumenep district.

The remains of a former prison still stand on the island, and Waseso said they could be renovated to house drug offenders. The lack of native wildlife, though, is a downer, he said.

“But we can always build a river which will be infested by crocodiles and piranhas,” Waseso said during a visit to East Java on Thursday as quoted by Tempo.

He added the island’s remote location placed it beyond the reach of cellular coverage, which meant inmates would not be able to continue running their drug rings from behind bars, as they do at most existing prisons.

The inmates “will have nothing to do but await their death sentence,” Waseso said.

The outspoken general has courted controversy since his appointment to the BNN in August, including for calling for an end to government funding for rehabilitation of drug addicts, and for suggesting that drug offenders be punished by being made to consume all of their contraband.

Source: Jakarta Globe, November 26, 2015

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