Police seize nearly three kg of suspected cocaine in North Sumatra

 Police in Tanjungbalai, North Sumatra, have arrested two suspects linked to a network trafficking nearly three kilograms of suspected cocaine, authorities said on Thursday.

Officers seized three packages of suspected cocaine weighing a total of 2,985.9 grams, along with a mobile phone, Tanjungbalai Police Narcotics Chief Adjunct Senior Commissioner Bringin Jaya told reporters.

Bringin said the evidence was obtained from two suspects, identified as TH and IL, who were arrested on Tuesday in separate locations following an investigation.

Police first detained TH at around 10 p.m. on Jalan Masjid in the Pulau Simardan area of East Datuk Bandar Subdistrict, Tanjungbalai City, he said.

During the arrest, officers found three transparent plastic packages containing white powder suspected to be cocaine, weighing 970.1 grams, 1,012.3 grams, and 1,003.7 grams, respectively.

Questioning revealed the drugs had been supplied by an accomplice identified as I, also known as IL, prompting officers to expand the operation, Bringin said.

Police then arrested IL on Jalan Selat Tanjung Medan in the Selat Tanjung Medan area of the same subdistrict, he added.

Both suspects were charged under Article 114(2) of Indonesia's 2009 Narcotics Law, in conjunction with provisions of the 2023 Criminal Code, which carry severe penalties.

Bringin said TH, also known as Tahan, and IL were being held in custody, while the seized evidence was secured for further legal proceedings.

The police said they were continuing to investigate the network to identify other possible suspects and trace the source and distribution routes of the drugs.

Authorities reaffirmed their commitment to combating narcotics trafficking in the region to protect future generations.

Police urged residents to actively report suspected drug-related activities or locations to law enforcement, saying public cooperation was critical to disrupting illegal drug distribution.

Indonesia enforces some of the world's toughest drug laws, with major traffickers facing life imprisonment or the death penalty.

Despite these strict penalties, the country remains a lucrative market for drug syndicates, driven by its large population and millions of users.

The nation's drug trade is valued at an estimated 66 trillion rupiah (US$4.3 billion), according to the National Narcotics Agency (BNN).

A BNN survey estimates that 3.4 million Indonesians use drugs—roughly 180 out of every 10,000 people aged 15 to 64.

North Sumatra ranks as the third most vulnerable province for drug-related crimes, with about 3.06 percent of its population using narcotics, BNN data show.

On Sept. 4, 2025, the Medan District Court sentenced M. Alfarisi, 36, to death for acting as a courier in the trafficking of nearly 4,833 ecstasy pills.