Teluk Nibung has long been known as the main entry gate for international drug trafficking mainly from Malaysia to Indonesia, Hamdani Harahap,anti narcotic activist, said.
Medan, N Maluku (ANTARA News) - Police are called on to crack down on rampant drug smuggling via the port of Teluk Nibung of Tanjung Balai, North Sumatra, anti narcotic activist said.

Teluk Nibung has long been known as the main entry gate for international drug trafficking mainly from Malaysia to Indonesia, Hamdani Harahap, the chairman of North Sumatra branch of the National Movement of Anti Narcotics, said here on Tuesday.

"The port of Teluk Nibung needs to be made a safe place and cleaned from drug smuggling," Hamdani said.

More police officers should be placed in Teluk Nibung as so far police have been in difficulty and failed to stamp out drug smuggling via the port facing the busy sea lane of Malacca Strait, he said.

The government should seriously and immediately address the problem long besetting Teluk Nibung and Tanjung Balai, he said.

"Teluk Nibung must be cleaned of the illicit deals, to save the people especially the younger generation from falling victim to drug syndicate," he said.

Monday, police raided the house of an alleged financier and operator of drug trafficking in Medan .

Police arrested eight suspects including couriers, crew members including captain of a ferry boat that smuggled drugs from Malaysia via Teluk Nibung.

Evidence is confiscated including 5 kg of narcotics, fire arms , scale and cash of Rp17 million and 20,000 Malaysian ringgit

Comr. Andjar Dewanto, who led the raid, said the move was part of police actions to crack down on international drug networks operating smuggling of drugs from Malaysia via Teluk Nibung.

A suspect identified as AH who resisted arrest and tried to grab a pistol from the hand of a police officer was shot dead.

Police have arrested a number of suspects smuggling drugs from Malaysia via Teluk Nibung into Indonesia.

Tanjung Balai is small port town on the eastern coast of North Sumatra with a population of 155,889 people.(*)

Editor: Heru Purwanto
Copyright © ANTARA 2012