Jakarta, July 22 -- Indonesia's National Narcotics Agency (BNN) and the Russian government are planning to launch a joint program to boost the capacity of BNN personnel to combat drug abuse and trafficking.

Head of the BNN Commissioner General Marthinus Hukom discussed the plan during a meeting with Deputy Russian Ambassador to Indonesia Veronika Novoseltseva in Jakarta on July 17, 2025.

In a statement released here on Monday, Hukom emphasized that Indonesia urgently needs such an initiative, given that the number of drug abusers in the country reached roughly 3.33 million in 2023.

"The absence of serious measures will have disastrous effects on the future of this nation's youth," he cautioned.

He added that he will soon coordinate wi...