The drug dealers and couriers involved in the trafficking of the seized drug packages belonged to a Malaysia-Aceh-Medan-Palembang drug ring, Sormin was quoted by ANTARA in Medan, the capital of North Sumatra Province, on Friday.
Sormin acknowledged the local people's participation in the North Sumatra police's success streak in uncovering the drug crimes. "Without tip-offs from the local community members, it would be challenging for us to crack down on the criminals," he revealed.
The North Sumatra police will continue its fight against drug lords and prevent communities from getting siphoned into drug addiction.
"I appeal to our partners from media outlets to help us educate our people about the dangers of drug addiction and drug abuses," he remarked.
On Thursday, the Idi District Court in East Aceh District, Aceh Province, sentenced M. Kasem bin Abdullah, 35, to death after finding him guilty of smuggling 45 kilograms of crystal methamphetamine from Malaysia into Indonesia in April this year.
The court's judiciary panel, headed by Irwandi, also sentenced Basri bin Rusli (32), Aji bin Abdullah (45), and Teja Saputra bin Edi Junaidi (23) to life in prison, as well as Junaidi bin Aji (23) to 20 years’ imprisonment in connection with this drug trafficking case.
Indonesia remains under grave threat from drug dealers, who perceive the country as a potential market. The value of drug trade in Indonesia is estimated to be at least Rp66 trillion.
Users of crystal methamphetamine, narcotics, marijuana, and other types of addictive drugs transcend communities and socio-economic and cultural backgrounds.
The Indonesian government has taken harsh punitive action against drug kingpins found smuggling and trading drugs in the country over the past few decades.
National Police Chief, General Idham Azis, recently stated that district courts in different parts of Indonesia have awarded capital punishment to at least 100 drug offenders in the first half of this year.
"May they soon be executed by firing squads to deter others," he stressed while witnessing the National Police special task force destroy 1.2 tons of crystal meth, 35 thousand ecstasy pills, and 410 kg of marijuana in Jakarta on July 2, 2020.
Indonesian President Joko Widodo has also issued shoot-at-sight orders against drug kingpins.
However, this has failed to deter drug traffickers, who have continued to treat Indonesia as one of their main markets, prompting Indonesian law enforcers to increase vigil against them.
Related news: East Aceh Court hands down death sentence to drug smuggler
Related news: North Sumatra police seized 500-kg crystal meth in Jan-Nov 2020
EDITED BY INE
Translator: Nur ABS, Rahmad Nasution
Editor: Suharto
Copyright © ANTARA 2020
