Indonesia’s anti-drugs boss Budi Waseso says he wants to build an island prison guarded by crocodiles, piranhas and tigers.
Although the idea to some may fit into the category of weird, Waseso has embarked on a tour of the country to find “the most ferocious type of crocodile” to guard the prison which will house, at least temporarily, drug convicts who have received a death sentence for drug running or heading drug trafficking operations.
Waseso told the media last week about his plans for the crocodiles, and despite being laughed at by many, he says he is more than serious.
“It is also possible we may use piranhas, and because the number of personnel at the prison might not be enough, we can also use tigers,” he says.
Anti-drugs agency spokesperson Slamet Pribadi hit back at suggestions that the prison island plan was a joke. “This is serious, this is not a joke. Drug trafficking is an extraordinary crime and therefore the fight must also be extraordinary, we cannot fight the usual way.”
Most countries around the world use dogs to guard military installations and some even use geese, as they make a lot of noise when their territory is breached, but apart from being seen in movies, few if any have actually used crocodiles or piranhas.
Indonesia boasts the toughest anti-narcotics laws in the world, including death by firing squad for traffickers, and continues to do so despite international uproar every time a foreign national is executed for drug trafficking.
Indonesia’s President Joko Widodo insists that drug dealers must face death as the country is fighting a rising illegal drug use “emergency”.
Pribadi says plans for the island prison are still in the early stages, with a decision yet to be made on either location or opening date.
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