The naval patrol ship detained the boat's skipper, identified as KH, 33, and his crew, HS, 34, the Indonesian Navy's 1st Fleet Command (Koarmada I) Chief Rear Adm. Abdul Rasyid noted in a press statement that ANTARA quoted in Medan on Tuesday.
The navy personnel intercepted the vessel en route to the Asahan River waters from the Malaysia-Indonesia sea border.
The personnel then checked the vessel and found six rice sacks containing 110.925 kg of crystal meth and ecstasy pills in its stern, Rasyid revealed.
Along with its skipper and crew, the boat was then brought to the Indonesian Naval Base I Belawan in North Sumatra Province while the seized drug packages were examined at the Medan Customs and Excise Office's laboratory, he noted.
The navy personnel also confiscated the 5-GT vessel along with a mobile phone and a wallet containing Rp342 thousand as the evidence of drug crime, he remarked.
Domestic and transnational drug dealers perceive Indonesia as a potential market owing to its huge population and millions of drug users.
Drug trade in the nation is valued at nearly Rp66 trillion. North Sumatra is one of the Indonesian provinces that the drug rings view as one of their potential markets as well as a gateway for conducting their drug-smuggling operations.
People from all strata of society are falling prey to drugs in the country regardless of their socio-economic and professional backgrounds.
Over the past few decades, the Indonesian government has taken harsh punitive action against drug barons found smuggling and trading drugs in the country.
The National Narcotics Agency (BNN) has sought capital punishment for those involved in drug trade in the country.
Indonesian President Joko Widodo has also issued shoot-at-sight orders against drug kingpins.
However, this has failed to deter drug traffickers, who continue to treat Indonesia as a main market, prompting Indonesian law enforcers to step up vigil against them.
Related news: Jakarta police arrest trafficker, seize 250 grams of drugs
Related news: North Sumatra ranks first among Indonesian provinces for drug abuse
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Translator: Munawar, Rahmad Nasution
Editor: Fardah Assegaf
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