Indonesian police raid nine North Sumatra drug dens, arrest 36

Jakarta (ANTARA) - Indonesian police raided nine drug dens across North Sumatra on Sunday and arrested 36 people, the national police's Criminal Investigation Agency (Bareskrim) said, as part of a nationwide anti-narcotics operation.

Bareskrim narcotics director Brig. Gen. Kristian Parluhutan Siagian said the raids covered Deli Serdang, Asahan, Mandailing Natal, Karo, Toba, Samosir, South Nias, Pakpak Bharat and Sibolga, with support from North Sumatra police and relevant agencies.

"Of that number, 28 have been identified as drug abusers and will undergo rehabilitation, while eight dealers will face legal proceedings," Siagian said in a statement on Monday.

Police seized 102.49 grams of crystal methamphetamine, 52 bongs, 100 Pyrex glass tubes, 25 lighters, 19 mobile phones, one car, four motorcycles, four bladed weapons and Rp2.4 million ($134) in cash, he said.

Five arcade gambling machines and two bags of arcade tokens were also confiscated, he added.

The raids were part of a nationwide operation launched on October 9, including in two Jakarta residential areas, in line with orders from President Prabowo Subianto and police chief Gen. Suyudi Ario Seto.

Police will identify major suppliers and determine whether they belong to one network, operate as separate syndicates or are linked to one another, he said. "We will hunt down the major drug kingpins."

He urged the public to report drug-related activities to authorities.

"Together with the public, the police will break the chains of drug trafficking networks," Siagian said.

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Translator: N.P. Rahmani, Tegar Nurfitra
Editor: Rahmad Nasution
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