Hammam Izzuddin, Jakarta – The Indonesian National Police's Criminal Investigation Department revealed that North Sumatra has the highest number of drug cases in Indonesia. Brigadier General Eko Hadi Santoso, the Director of Narcotics Crimes of the National Police's Criminal Investigation Department, stated that the province has become a special concern for law enforcement authorities.

"North Sumatra is number one in drug circulation and usage. Therefore, it requires joint mitigation with related stakeholders in North Sumatra," said Eko at the National Police's Criminal Investigation Department building on Wednesday, October 22, 2025.

Eko mentioned that the police do not delve into the factors causing the highest drug cases in North Sumatra. He emphasized that the police are focused on finding solutions.

He added that the case of drug circulation among children is also most prevalent in North Sumatra, although he did not specify the exact number of cases there.

One of the steps taken to address the high drug cases in an area is by placing special organizational resources. According to Eko, narcotics investigation officials in areas with high cases should have a "hunter" character. "We provide organizational resources and 'man method management,' but it's a process," he said.

During the period of January-October 2025, the police uncovered 38,934 drug circulation cases across Indonesia. The total number of suspects identified reached 51,763 individuals.

The police seized 197.71 tons of narcotics over the last ten months. The most prevalent type of narcotics was marijuana, weighing 184.64 tons, followed by methamphetamine weighing 6.95 tons. Additionally, there were several other types of narcotics such as ecstasy, cocaine, heroin, gorilla tobacco, happy five, hashish, ketamine, happy water, hard drugs, etomidate, and THC.

Source: https://en.tempo.co/read/2059604/the-highest-drug-cases-in-indonesia-found-in-north-sumatr