The idea was proposed by anti-drugs chief Budi Waseso, who told news website Tempo he would seek to place as many crocodiles as possible there, adding: “I will search for the most ferocious type of crocodile.”

Slamet Pribadi, the anti-drugs agency spokesman said authorities were considering the plan to build “a special prison for death row convicts”.

But he added that only traffickers would be housed in the prison, to stop them from influencing other prisoners and involving them in drug culture.

Among the merits of using crocodiles as guards are that they cannot be bribed, according to Mr Waseso.

He extolled: “You can’t bribe crocodiles. You can’t convince them to let inmates escape.”