The suspected drug dealer was gunned down after attempting to evade arrest, while two other suspects were successfully arrested along with 10 kilograms of crystal meth, North Sumatra Police Chief Inspector General Martuani Sormin stated.
In conversation with journalists here on Tuesday, Sormin remarked that the narcotics squad personnel had earlier fired warning shots thrice, but SU did not heed to them and instead attempted to evade arrest.
The policemen, in fact, attempted to save his life by taking him to the North Sumatra Police Hospital in Medan though he died on the way to the medical center, he stated.
In this ongoing war on drugs, Sormin appealed to local community members to help the police by offering tip-offs if they spot and discern any suspicious drug trafficking activities in their neighborhoods.
Apart from SU, two other suspects, currently under the police custody are identified as IIL and IF, both residents of Medan City.
Sormin noted that SU, IIL, and IF were part of a transnational drug ring.
Indonesia remains under grave threat from drug dealers, as several individuals from its working-age population have been embroiled in a vicious circle.
According to the National Narcotics Agency's (BNN's) report, some 50 drug use-related deaths occur in Indonesia. However, their deaths have failed to deter other drug users in the country from consuming these banned substances.
Users of crystal methamphetamine, narcotics, marijuana, and other addictive drugs transcend communities and socio-economic and cultural backgrounds.
Hence, Indonesia is perceived by both domestic and transnational drug dealers as a potential market due to its huge population and millions of drug users. Drug trade in the country is estimated to reach nearly Rp66 trillion.
Due to the ongoing serious threats posed by these drug lords, on December 5, 2019, BNN Chief Commissioner General Heru Winarko discussed drug-related issues encompassing Indonesia's war on drugs, including the need to execute death row convicts, with top security minister Mahfud MD.
"Capital punishment is part of the laws that should be implemented," Winarko told journalists following his meeting with the coordinating minister for political, legal, and security affairs.
Several death row prisoners have yet to be executed for drug-related offences. Apart from this issue, he also deliberated on several other matters, including drugs in prison.
He opined that the easiest strategy to deal with incidents of drugs in prison was to stall communication networks inside penitentiaries to halt drug transactions. (INE).
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Translator: Munawar M, Rahmad Nasution
Editor: Azis Kurmala
Copyright © ANTARA 2019
