MEDAN: Samosir Police in North Sumatra have arrested and named two of its officers suspects for allegedly running a drugs distribution ring following the seizure of 5.5 grams of shabu (crystal methamphetamine).
The officers are identified only as Adj Second Insp ES from the Vital Object Security Unit and Brig DW from the Samapta rapid response unit. They are currently being held at the North Sumatra Police detention centre.
Samosir Police chief Adj Sr Comr Rina Sry Nirwana Tarigan said the arrests of both officers were on her direct orders and conducted by her own police force and not by the North Sumatra Police.
“I directly ordered the arrest of both officers who are suspected of being involved in drugs distribution,” she said on Sunday (July 12).
“This is part of the National Police’s commitment to eradicating drug abuse.”
She added that their case had been handed over to the North Sumatra Police, who will further process the case.
Samosir Police acting spokesman, Brig Gunawan Situmorang, said the case was revealed during Operation Antik Toba 2026 organised by the police’s Narcotics Crimes Investigation (Resnarkoba) Unit.
He said that officers nabbed a man, identified only as R, during the operation in Aek Rangat, Pangururan district, on June 2 for drugs possession. R had been an operation target for quite some time, he added.
When questioned by the police, R admitted to having received shabu from Samosir Police personnel. Based on this information, officers from Resnarkoba moved in and developed the case, leading to the arrest of Brig DW and the seizure of 5.5 g of shabu.
Gunawan said based on questioning, DW said he was not alone in running the drugs business and linked it with Adj Second Insp ES. He said that urine tests results revealed that both officers were drugs users.
“Adj Second Insp ES and Brig. DW have been named suspects for alleged drugs distribution,” he said on Sunday.
“The case has been handed over to the North Sumatra Police.”
Gunawan said that so far North Sumatra Police detectives were still studying the roles of each officer, including determining for how long they were involved in drugs distribution.
Detectives are also investigating the possibility of the involvement of other officers and parties in the case.
“The case is still being processed by detectives,” he said.
Previously, North Sumatra Police dishonourably discharged Adj Second Insp Erina for selling one kilogramme of shabu.
Erina was fired by the North Sumatra Police’s Code of Ethics Commission on Oct 28, 2025. Erina, previously a member of North Sumatra Police’s Resnarkoba Directorate, was also sentenced to a 12-year prison term by Binjai District Court on March 3 for distributing shabu.
In a separate case, Lampung Police’s Resnarkoba Directorate foiled an attempt to smuggle five kg of sabu and 202 ecstasy pills, worth some Rp 5 billion (US$276,273), at Bakauheni Port in South Lampung regency on June 27.
The attempt was made by a police Mobile Brigade (Brimob) officer, identified only as HB, and a Navy sailor, identified only as DK, whose role was to assist in getting the drugs through to Jakarta.
“Lampung Police are committed to arresting whoever is involved in drugs distribution without consideration for their background or profession,” Lampung Police chief spokesman Sr Comr Yuni Iswandari Yuyun said on July 4, as quoted by Kompas.com.
“The successful interception of the drugs not only resulted in seizures worth billions of rupiah but also potentially saved thousands, even hundreds of thousands, of residents from drug abuse.”
Based on police calculations, five kg of shabu could potentially be used by some 150,000 people.
Yuni said in addition to HB and DK, there were two other suspects in the case. HS, a former operative of the Army’s Special Forces Command (Kopassus), who is suspected of being the drugs owner and HR, a civilian who is suspected of transporting the drugs from Medan.
“The case handling for the civilians and the Brimob operative is being done by detectives from Lampung Police Resnarkoba Directorate,” Yuni said.
“The Navy sailor has been handed over to the Lampung Naval Base Military Police Detachment for further investigation according to its jurisdiction.” - The Jakarta Post/ANN
