The arrested suspects were only identified by their initials as US (54), MR (47), and NG (45) -- all residents of Medan City -- while SR (59) was a resident of Labuhan Batu District, Medan Police Chief Sen. Coms. Jhony Edizzon Isir informed journalists here over the weekend.
The suspects packed the marijuana into 240 brown plastic bags, he remarked, adding that the drug raid operation was conducted after a tip-off was received by the Medan city police's anti-drug squad personnel.
The police investigators are still on the lookout for another suspect, identified by the initials as IS, for allegedly supplying the marijuana from Aceh Province that shares its land border with North Sumatra, he remarked.
The police's success in thwarting the drug dealers' attempt to trade 240 kilograms of cannabis has prevented the consumption of the illicit drugs by some 1.2 million people.
"The impact of the illicit drug trade is real. We cannot undermine it since it may destroy the future of our young generation," he cautioned.
Police investigators have charged the suspects under Indonesia's Narcotics Law, thereby making them liable for imprisonment for a period of six to nearly 20 years, Isir remarked.
Indonesia remains under serious threat from drug dealers, with several members of its working-age population engulfed in a vicious cycle of drug abuse.
The National Narcotics Agency’s (BNN’s) report showed that some 50 drug use-related deaths occur daily in Indonesia. However, the deaths have failed to deter other drug users in the country.
Users of crystal methamphetamine, narcotics, marijuana, and other addictive drugs transcend communities and socio-economic and cultural backgrounds.
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 at nearly Rp66 trillion.
In the face of the grave threat posed by drug lords, BNN Chief Commissioner General Heru Winarko had met with Security Minister Mahfud MD on December 5, 2019, to discuss matters pertaining to Indonesia's war on drugs, including the need to execute death row convicts.
"Capital punishment is part of the laws that should be imposed," Winarko had stated following his meeting with the coordinating minister for political, legal, and security affairs.
Related news: Four drug dealers, couriers in Palembang to serve 13-year imprisonment
Related news: 7 arrested drug dealers maybe from big syndicates
Related news: East Java police arrest two armed drug dealers
Translator: Munawar M, Rahmad Nasution
Editor: Sri Haryati
Copyright © ANTARA 2020
