North Sumatra Police Chief Ins.Gen. Agus Andrianto said the four identified by their initials ZL, AM, AU and AB were nabbed with 48.5 kilograms of methamphetamine, 40,000 ecstasy pills and 6 kg of keytamin in two separate places in this provincial city.
The four suspects were intercepted by police before their cars entered the city earlier this month.
Agus said police moved after receiving information about big quantity of drugs being transported to Medan and the drugs were smuggled in from Malaysia via Dumai in Riau.
The suspects are now in Medan for further investigations, he added.
Police have anticipated rampant drug traffic ahead of Christmas and new year celebrations, the police general said.
Medan police chief Sr. Com . Dadang Hartanto said police also raided a house at Jalan Sei Situmandi, in the sub-district of Medan Baru and arrested a suspect with 3.5 kg of methamphetamine.
"Ahead of New Year demand for drugs is normally higher and there are more drugs supplied to Medan. We also already have the identities of the suppliers," Dadang said.
Agus Andrianto said the drugs were to be sold in New Year, 2019, adding "This is a warning for the people of Medan."
North Sumatra is not only a transit place in drug traffic in the country, but also a major consumer, he went on to say.
"The unveiling of the big drug case should motivate the people to cooperate in the effort to eradicate drug traffic," he said.
He asked North Sumatra police to be especially watchful and work the harder in the fight against drug syndicate from Malaysia.
"The law enforces should not hesitate to take firm measure against drug dealers to protect our younger generation," he said.
Reporting by Munawar Mandailing, A Saragih
Editing by Eliswan
Reporter: Antara
Editor: Fardah Assegaf
Copyright © ANTARA 2018
