Police Arrest 41-Year-Old Man for Trafficking Drugs in North Sumatra

Medan, North Sumatra – In a significant drug bust, a 41-year-old man has been apprehended by the police in North Sumatra for allegedly trafficking nine kilograms of crystal methamphetamine and approximately 20 thousand ecstasy pills. The suspect, known as DE alias WIS, was captured at his residence in the Pasar Baru neighborhood of Sei Tualang Raso Subdistrict, Tanjungbalai City, on December 28, 2023, according to Senior Commissioner Hadi Wahyudi, the spokesperson for the North Sumatra Police.

Wahyudi stated, “He is currently in police custody for further investigation.”

The arrest came after the police received information from local residents regarding DE’s involvement in drug trafficking. Acting swiftly, the police raided his house on December 28, 2023, and discovered nine kilograms of crystal meth and around 20 thousand ecstasy pills.

The investigators are now focused on dismantling DE’s drug ring, emphasized Wahyudi, highlighting that combating drug abuse and trafficking remains a top priority for the North Sumatra police.

Efforts to Prevent Drug Smuggling

As part of their proactive measures to prevent drug smuggling, the North Sumatra police will continue to strengthen surveillance operations at seaports and airports across the province, according to Wahyudi.

Drug dealers, both domestic and transnational, view Indonesia as a potential market due to its vast population and the presence of millions of drug users.

The estimated value of the drug trade in the country stands at nearly Rp66 trillion, with the number of drug trafficking cases continuing to rise.

Cracking Down on Drug Rings

In recent news, the National Police claimed to have successfully dismantled the drug rings operated by Fredy Pratama, a notorious drug lord who trafficked 10.2 tons of crystal meth and 116,346 ecstasy pills in Indonesia between 2020 and 2023.

Over the past three years, authorities have uncovered 408 drug-related cases linked to Pratama’s network, resulting in the arrest of 884 suspects, as stated by Brigadier General Mukti Juharsa, the Director of the National Police’s Narcotics Investigation Division.

Drug Use in Indonesia

A joint survey conducted by the National Narcotics Agency (BNN) and the Indonesian Institute of Sciences (LIPI) in 2019 revealed that there are more than 3.4 million drug users in Indonesia.

The survey, conducted across 34 provinces, indicated that approximately 180 out of every 10 thousand Indonesians aged between 15 and 64 years were addicted to drugs.

It is important to note that users of crystal methamphetamine, narcotics, marijuana, and other types of addictive drugs can come from any community, regardless of their socioeconomic and cultural background.

Related news: 93 new narcotics entering Indonesia from Mexico: BNN