Regional Government Policy in Preventing 

Illegal Drug Trade Case Study: North Sumatera 
 
Muhammad Novan Prasetya, 
 
Jurusan Ilmu Hubungan Internasional, Universitas Potensi Utama 

Medan muhnovanprasetya@gmail.com 
 
Sahla Rizky Deovanka 
 
Jurusan Ilmu Hubungan Internasional, Universitas Potensi Utama Medan 

 

Abstract 
 
Indonesia with abundant natural resources and the location is in a strategic 

area in international trade is become an important factor to look at the 

increasing problem of drug trafficking. The important issue in Indonesia is the 

policy in the State of Indonesia is considered still lacking in terms of handling 

drugs. This research is a descriptive analytic research with qualitative methods. 

The author provides an overview and explain the efforts government in North 

Sumatra in tackling the trafficking and distribution of illegal narcotics are even 

already global.In ASEAN, Indonesia is the largest market for drug sales, while 

the country is the largest importer of China and Thailand. For Indonesia, 

geopolitics is the policy in order to achieve national goals by utilizing the 

advantages geographical position of the country is based on scientific 

knowledge about the geographical conditions. The network of drug syndicates 

from China who control distribution business in Indonesia. 
 
In the area of North Sumatra, one of the sea track with high drug access is in 

Medan Belawan. BelawanPort, Medan is one of a number of ports that be the 

main concern of the apparatus because of prone to drug smuggling. In the 

region of North Sumaterawith the crusialstatus of acute drug, indicating that the 

handling of the border region of the ocean is still less to see the data obtained 

from the North Sumatra Police that the number of suspected cases of drug abuse 

in 2015 reached 6,267 people, and then increased in 2016 became 6,534 people. 

Belawan Pelawan Police Station itself occupies the second position with the 

number of 384 cases with 452 suspects. High incidence of drug abuse in North 

Sumatra is because North Sumatra region is the entrance and transit of drugs 

from outside to Indonesia.From the case study above, it 

 

Islamic World and Politics  
Vol.2. No.1 January-June 2018 ISSN: 2614-0535 



190 Islamic World and Politics  
Vol.2. No.1 January-June 2018  

 

can be taken a center line of the vulnerability of the various policies 

related to drug abuse, then it is not possible the increase of drugs in the 

region of North Sumatra, Medan can be overcome. 
 
Keywords: Regional Government Policy, Drug Trade, North Sumatera  
 

 

Introduction 
 

Narcotics is necessary for 

human treatment so that to meet 

the needs in the field of medicine 

and scientific studies required a 

continuous narcotics production 

for these patients. In Law Number 

35 Year 2009 on Narcotics stated 

that narcotics on the one hand is a 

drug or a useful ingredient in the 

field of medicine or health services 

and the development of science 

and on the other hand can also also 

cause dependence when abused. 
 

Indonesia with abundant natural 

resources and locations in strategic 

areas in international trade becomes 

important factors to see the 

increasing problem of drug 

trafficking. Indonesia is in the line 

of international trade. In addition to 

its archipelago territory, Indonesia is 

also a potential area for transit. Plus, 

with the existing natural and human 

resources in Indonesia. The 

important issue in Indonesia is the 

policy in the State of Indonesia 

which is considered still lacking in 

the handling of drugs. 

 
 
 

Indonesia is a region with 

serious drug status. There are many 

found cases of narcotics abuse in 

Indonesia. In the era of globalization 

with the opening of all access to the 

world, drug abuse is increasingly 

widespread. Globalization relies on 

free access to various commodities, 

one of which is natcotics. In other 

words, in terms of distribution 

access, Indonesia has the potential 

to become one of the transit areas of 

narcotics trade. Indonesia strategic 

(cross position), has become a drug 

producing country. This can be seen 

by the disclosure of some drug 

laboratories (clandenstin lab) in 

Indonesia. Globalization is marked 

by the advancement of 

communication technology, trade 

liberalization and the rapid progress 

of the tourism industry has made 

Indonesia as a potential drug 

producer country which in the end 

may cause a disturbance of national 

security (Travel, 2016). 

 

Formulation of The Problem 
 

Based on the background of the 

problems described above, it can be 



Muhammad Novan Prasetya & Sahla Rizky Deovanka 
 

191 
 

Regional Government Policy in Preventing Illegal Drug Trade   
  

 

formulated the following problems: 

How is the implementation of 

Indonesian government policies to 

deal with problems related to 

Narcotics abuse that is increasing? 
 

Objectives and Benefit 
 

Based on the problems that 

have been mentioned above, the 

objectives and benefits to be 

achieved in this study are: 

1. To find out the extent of the 

development of illicit drug 

trafficking that has occurred in 

Indonesia, especially the area 

of North Sumatra? 
 
2. To know how the role of Local 

Government of North Sumatra 

in handling phenomenon related 

illegal drug trade which is 

increasingly increasing? 
 

Research Method 
 

This research is a descriptive 

analytic research with qualitative 

method. According to Nazir (1988: 

63) descriptive method is a method 

in examining the status of a group of 

people, an object, a set of 

conditions, a system of thought, or a 

class of events in the present. The 

purpose of this descriptive study is 

to create a description, systematic, 

factual and accurate description of 

the facts, traits and relationships 

among the phenomena under 

 

investigation. The authors provide 

an overview and explain the efforts 

of local governments in the region 

of North Sumatra in tackling the 

trade and circulation of illegal 

narcotics that even worldwide. The 

data presented is secondary data 

obtained through literature review, 

ie by collecting data relevant to the 

issues discussed from the literature 

such as books, newspapers, or 

magazines and websites from the 

internet. Data analysis technique 

used is qualitative data. 
 

Literature Revview 
 
The Definition of Narcotics 
 

Narcotics according to Article 1 

number 1 Law Number 35 Year 2009 

on Narcotics is a substance or drug 

derived from plants or non-plants, 

either synthetic or semisynthetic, 

which can cause a decrease or can 

change awareness, loss of taste, 

reduce to eliminate pain, and can 

cause dependence, which is divided 

into classes. The emergence of the 

hallucinatory effects of Narcotics use 

also causes the community groups, 

especially among teenagers to use 

Narcotics even though they do not 

suffer anything. This is what causes 

the abuse of Narcotics (drugs). The 

danger when using Narcotics when 

not in accordance with the rules is the 

existence of drug addiction 

(addiction). 



192 Islamic World and Politics  
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Detailed classification of 

narcotics is set forth in the 

provisions of Article 6 paragraph 

(1) of Law No. 35 of 2009 on 

Narcotics and the explanation that 

narcotics can be classified into 

three categories (batan, 2003): 
 
1. Narcotics class I are narcotics 

that can only be used for 

scientific development 

purposes and not used in 

therapy, and have high 

potential to cause dependence. 

As for the type of narcotics 

class I mentioned there are 65 

types of them: Cannabis, 

Plants Papaver Somniverum 

L, raw or ripe Opium, Koka 

Plants, raw Cocaine, etc. 
 
2. Narcotics Group II is a effica- 

cious narcotic for treatment that 

is used as a last resort and can 

be used in therapy and has high 

potential to cause dependence. 

Type II narcotics are very 

numerous among others: 

Morphine, Alfasetilmetadol, 

Benzetidine, Dimenoksadol, 

Levorfanol, etc. 
 
3. Narcotics Group III is a drug 

that is efficacious for treatment 

and widely used in therapy and 

has the potential to be lightly 

dependent. Type III narcotic 

drugs include: Ethylmorphine, 

 
 
 
 

 

Nikokodina, Polkodina, 

Buprenorfina. 
 

History of Narcotics 
 

Opium is known as one type of 

narcotics used by a small part of 

society, Candu allegedly comes from 

the Mediterranean Mountains east. 

Opium is a kind of wild bush that 

grows in mountainous areas. At first 

the seeds of the plant were taken to be 

used as a mixture of tea drinks(Travel, 

2016). Opium addiction became a 

major problem in China after China 

became the main target of opium 

trade by British airlines, British East 

India Company 
 
/ BEIC and the Netherlands. In 

1970, BEIC sold opium to China. In 

1983 there was an opium war I after 

the dark British opium was canceled 

by China. Britain and China fought 

back in 1856-1858 which made 

defeats on the Chinese side. As a 

result, China was forced to open the 

door and put opium through some at 

the port (Mardani, 2015). 
 

In the United Nations report 

on the International Seminar on 

Prevention and Recovery of 

Addiction to Drugs in Bangkok in 

1979, the Chinese migration story 

from the south to Southeast Asian 

countries at the end of the 18th 

century occurred due to the dry 

season and the threatening 



Muhammad Novan Prasetya & Sahla Rizky Deovanka 
 

193 
 

Regional Government Policy in Preventing Illegal Drug Trade   
  

 

famine. With this migration then 

brings the habit of sucking opium 

into a new place. This again became 

an advantage for the colonists of 

Europe. As a result, until the late 

19th century opium trade became a 

lucrative object in Southeast Asia. 

Because of this, then it is suspected 

that the country carrying opium is 

introduced by the Indians, Arabs, 

and Chinese themselves. 
 

After becoming a VOC 

luggage, the import of opium in 

Java increased especially after the 

VOC held a monopoly of imports 

to the kingdom of Mataram then 

wilaya Sultanate of Banten. With 

technological advances, opium 

derived from Paaver Somniferum 

L fruit can be processed to 

producing morphine and heroine. 

While coca plants can be 

processed to produce cocaine. And 

there is also a marijuana that 

thrives in the country of Indonesia 

and includes one type of narcotics 

that banned the government. And 

now, opium, morphine, heroine, 

cocaine, and marijuana are known 

in terms of legislation as 

narcotics(Mardani, 2015). 
 

Concept of Narcotics Trade 

(territorial focus) 

Indonesia-China 
 

According to Kastia (2001) 

 

Indonesia-China diplomatic 

relations began in 1950. This initial 

relationship has not provided a 

productive relationship, because the 

domestic situation of Indonesia and 

China is being preoccupied with the 

process of reconstruction in an 

atmosphere of revolution. Indonesia-

China diplomatic relations were 

frozen in October 1967 after the 

screening of G30S/ PKI, in addition 

to China’s role in assisting PKI at 

that time. China’s efforts to reopen 

diplomatic relations with Indonesia 

were visible in 1985-1988. 

Indonesia at that time did not 

provide any feedback, as the G30S / 

PKI event left political doubt for 

Indonesia to normalize the 

Indonesia-China (Koesmawan, 

2010). 
 

The restoration of Indonesia-

China diplomatic relations marked 

the official visit of the Prime 

Minister of China to Indonesia in 

1990 with the signing of the 

Momentum of Understanding on the 

restoration of diplomatic relations, 

as well as the signing of a 

cooperation agreement on economic 

and trade between the two countries. 
 

Indonesia-China bilateral 

relations in economic, trade and 

technical cooperation during the 

1990/2000 period generally 

increased. In the field of tourism 



194 Islamic World and Politics  
Vol.2. No.1 January-June 2018  

 

is expected to increase mainly from 

China to Indonesia. After 

simplifying the immigration 

procedure and after Indonesia by 

China is designated as an approved 

destination status. Minister of 

Tourism and Arts, said as many as 

1.3 million Chinese tourists enter 
 

 
 
 
 

 

Indonesia (Zulihar, 2012). In other 

words, the state of China as one of 

the foreign exchange suppliers for 

the state of Indonesia. However, 

on the other hand, China is also 

one of the main narcotics suppliers 

to Indonesia. 
 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 

Source: various Indonesian media reports 

 

This became a polemic in 

diplomatic relations between the 

two countries. As is known, the case 

of abuse of narcotics, the toughest 

 

punishment is the death penalty. 

However, this will turn out to be 

detrimental to diplomatic relations 

between the two countries. 



Muhammad Novan Prasetya & Sahla Rizky Deovanka 
 

195 
 

Regional Government Policy in Preventing Illegal Drug Trade  
  

 

Discussion 
 
Government of Indonesia’s Policy 

on Arrangement of Narcotics Act. 
 

At first, Ordinantie 

Regie(Regie, 2012), during this 

period of administration, each region 

has its own ordinant regie, such as: 

Bali Regie Ordonantie, Aceh Regie 

Ordonantie, and Borneo Regie 

Ordonantie. Next formation of rules 

Verdovende Midellen Ordonantie 

adjusted based on concordance, for 

the purpose of unification of law 

unifying all previous narcotics 

regulations. The third is Law No. 9 

of 1976 on narcotics is a change that 

occurs in terms of setting a wider 

scope and more severe criminal 

threat. Next Law No. 22 of 1997 

which underlies the enactment of 

this regulation is to increase 

supervision as an effort to prevent 

and combat the abuse and illicit 

trafficking of narcotics. 
 

Finally, Law No. 35 of 2009 is 

that Narcotics crimes have been 

transnational in nature carried out 

using high modus operandi, 

advanced technology, supported by 

an extensive network of 

organizations. The new law aims to 

regulate eradication efforts against 

 

narcotics through the threat of 

criminal sanctions: imprisonment, 

life imprisonment and capital 

punishment(Ayat, 2009).Then in the 

framework of the prevention and 

eradication of illegal abuse and 

trafficking of Narcotics and 

Narcotics Precursor, with this Act 

was established National Narcotics 

Agency (BNN) duty and responsible 

directly to the Government in 

implementing eradication and abuse 

and illicit traffic Narcotics and 

Narcotics Precursor. 

 

Drug Status 
 

Presented by Komjen Pol Budi 

Waseso Head of The National Anti-

Narcotics Agency (BNN) that the 

number of drug users in Indonesia 

until November 2015 reached 5.9 

million people. Indonesia has 

emergency dangers of drugs. Earlier 

in June 2015 recorded 4.2 million. 

Can be seen an increase in the 

number of Drug users even in a 

matter of months only. In ASEAN, 

Indonesia is the largest market share 

for drug sales, while the largest 

importing countries are China and 

Thailand(Sudarwan, 2017). 



196 Islamic World and Politics  
Vol.2. No.1 January-June 2018  

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 

Geopolitics: Drugs in the Indo-

China Area 
 

Geopolitics is interpreted as the 

science of state organizers whose 

policies are linked to the geographical 

problems of a region or place of 

residence of a nation. Geopolitics is 

the study of the relationship between 

geographic factors, strategy, and 

politics of a country, while for its 

implementation required a strategy 

that is national (Ermaya Suradinata, 

2001). In particular, geopolitics is a 

method of foreign policy analysis, 

which seeks to understand, explain, 

and predict international political 

behavior especially in terms of 

geographic variables. This 

geographical variable refers to: the 

country’s geographic 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 

location, the country’s territorial 

climate, demographics, resources 

and technology development. 
 

In other words, geopolitics is a 

political system in the form of 

national policies and policies that 

are driven by the national 

aspirations of state geography that if 

implemented and succeed will have 

a direct impact on the political 

system of a country. Conversely, the 

politics of the country will directly 

affect the geography of the country 

concerned. Geopolitics relies on 

social geography, about the 

geographical situation and 

everything that is considered 

relevant to the geographic 

characteristics of a country(Teori, 

2015). For Indonesia, geopolitics is 



Muhammad Novan Prasetya & Sahla Rizky Deovanka 
 

197 
 

Regional Government Policy in Preventing Illegal Drug Trade   
  

 

a policy in order to achieve national 

goals by utilizing the advantages of 

geographical location of the country 

based on scientific knowledge of the 

geographical conditions. The mode 

of illicit trafficking of international 

narcotics always involves foreign 

nationals and affects the territory of 

two or more countries and is always 

preceded by preparation or planning 

that is conducted outside the 

territorial boundaries of certain 

countries(Godson, 2002). 
 

Head of Public Relations BNN 

Kombes Slamet Pribadi said China is 

the largest narcotics supplier to 

Indonesia and also controlling the 

drug business. Currently, the 

syndicate of narcotics network from 

China which is in control of business 

circulation in Indonesia(Tempo). It is 

proved by the case of the seizure of 

drugs from three different citizens 

involving Chinese citizens. With the 

shipping mode using the sea lane from 

China the 24 kilogram shabu it is 

placed into Chinese tea packaging and 

another 16 kilograms are stored in the 

machine tool loom that is shipped 

directly from China. According to the 

statement of the suspect, shabu was 

imported directly from China to 

Malaysia 

 

and smuggled in Aceh which then 

brought to Medan(Waluyo, 2017). 
 

The territorial waters of 

Indonesia are required to receive 

serious attention and supervision 

from the Government. Drug 

syndicates began to choose the sea 

as a new route of drug distribution 

after the arrest of three Chinese 

nationals carrying 157 kg of shabu. 

The sea lane is chosen because of its 

vast territory and the supervision of 

the distribution of goods through the 

path is not as tight as the airport. 

Attributed to the BNN case that 

once arrested a drug syndicate using 

a ship as a means of distribution in 

North Sumatra. Mentioned that the 

shabu is shipped alone from China 

through the expedition services of 

marine vessels to be circulated in 

Indonesia (Raymandus). 
 

Illegal Drug Trafficking in North 

Sumatra 
 

In illicit drug trafficking, the 

authors will only focus on the many 

abused types of narcotics and then 

illegally trade in marijuana and 

ATS. BNN revealed drug users in 

Indonesia increased from 2015 to 

2017 (Desideria, 2017). 



198 Islamic World and Politics  
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Then followed by ATS 

(Amphetamine Type Stimulant) or 

often known as meth and ecstasy. 

Disclosed by Head of National 

Narcotics Agency (BNN) Anang 

Iskandar that shabu is the most 

abused type of narcotics because it 

tends to be mild. Although the 

actual consumption of shabu make 

a bad impact in the long term that 

is 10-15 years later. Then the 

second drug is marijuana. And the 

third is a pill-shaped ecstasy. 
 

ATS is one of the illegally 

made drugs in the laboratory in 

tablet form. Ecstasy will encourage 

the body to perform activities that 

exceed the maximum limit of the 

body’s own strength. Lack of body 

fluids can occur as a result of the 

high and long labor deployment, 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 

which often leads to death. 

Symptoms arising from the use of 

amphetamine include increased 

vigilance, arousal, and insomnia. 

Cannabis is known to trigger 

psychosis, especially for those 

who have genes. Cannabis can 

also trigger and confuse between 

anxiety and depression. Symptoms 

such as pleasure, depression and 

often drowsiness and self-control 

and lack of concentration 

(dedihumas, 2017). 
 

The black market is a sector of 

economic activity involving illegal 

economic transactions, especially 

the illegal buying and selling of 

merchandise one of which is drugs 

here. The black market is said to 

be growing as the restrictions on 

places of the country get heavier, 



Muhammad Novan Prasetya & Sahla Rizky Deovanka 
 

199 
 

Regional Government Policy in Preventing Illegal Drug Trade   
  

 

such as during bans or distributions. 

However, black markets are 

normally present in the economy of 

capitalism and socialism. The black 

market is very closely related to 

smuggling. Self-smuggling is any 

form of process of exporting goods 

that is prohibited or restricted by 

means of unlawful means. 
 

Drug abuse is not just happen- 

ing in urban areas, but has reached 

the countryside. Drug abuse shows 

symptoms that have reached a very 

alarming level both in terms of 

number of use, increasing drug 

variations, and how to use. 

Similarly, concerning illicit drug 

trafficking, it is known that trade is a 

form of cooperation between two or 

more parties that can bring benefits. 

Illicit trafficking in drugs can create 

an access or new path that regulates 

illegal drug trafficking. 
 

The illicit drug trafficking that 

has taken place in Indonesia to date 

and has spread to all levels of 

society has made Indonesia feel the 

need to revise a written law that has 

been determined but it is 

increasingly adding to the cases of 

illicit trafficking (Erasmus, 2017). 

The nature of the crime systematized 

and supported by the mechanisms 

used so as to be able to compete 

with the fact that there are still many 

countries that are not sufficient 

 

legal provisions and the scope of 

the wider and the existing policy 

interventions of most countries, so 

often the handling of trade issues 

illicit drugs is not optimal. 
 

Although in medicine most 

drugs are still useful for treatment, 

but if misused and even more if 

accompanied by circulation in the 

illegal path will result very harmful 

for individuals and the general 

public, especially the younger 

generation. Indonesia today is not 

only a transit of illicit trade and the 

purpose of drug trafficking, but has 

also become a manufacturer and 

exporter(Indonesia, 2008). Like the 

law of economics, as has been 

explained before that the more 

banykanya drug users in Indonesia 

this is clearly directly proportional 

to the number of requests. Large 

demand then results in a large 

supply as well. Not to mention the 

huge velocity of money that will 

make more and more people 

wanting to cultivate business with 

these lucrative profits. 
 

It is known that the network that 

has been widespread related illicit 

drug trafficking case is even already 

organized. Illicit trafficking of drugs 

has become a crime that involves not 

only the lower classes, but also the 

upper classes that should be a good 

example for all Indonesian citizens. 



200 Islamic World and Politics  
Vol.2. No.1 January-June 2018  

 

As a Trisakti University Money 

Laundering Money laundering 

Specialist (TPPU) expert Yenti 

Garnasih thinks that Indonesia is a 

haven for drug dealers. So the drug 

used as a very profitable trading 

business supported by the market 

price of drugs in Indonesia is 

higher than other countries in 

Asia(K.M, 2015) . 
 

It is said that the price of drugs 

per package or per kilogram in Japan 

is only one fifth of the price in 

Indonesia. The selling price of goods 

coming from overseas to Indonesia 

increased many times over. This is 

what became one of the causes of 

drug crimes in Indonesia is higher. 

Despite having a clear narcotics law, 

but the fact is narcotics in Indonesia is 

getting higher and higher because of 

this narcotics trade has a very wide 

network. And globally, drugs ranks at 

the top in international illegal trade 

that amounts to 300 to 350 billion US 

dollars per year. 
 

The phenomenon of illicit drug 

trafficking that occurred among 

Indonesian society has triggered the 

causes. Although it is clear that the 

impact of the losses and laws 

received in relation to illicit drug 

trafficking, it still can not be 

stopped. Illicit trafficking of drugs 

that have involved and impacted all 

levels of society is not considered 

 
 
 
 

 

to be detrimental to the parties 

concerned because it is balanced 

with the results obtained. How not, 

as happened in one of the provinces 

in Indonesia, the business of buying 

and selling drugs can produce a 

fantastic profit of 6 billion with only 

takes four months(Hukrim, 2015). 
 

Actually, the business of buying 

and selling drugs that run this requires 

a very large capital to then earn a 

profit equal to even greater. Because 

to run this illicit drug trafficking is not 

only from the upper class who have 

enough capital, but the fact many 

people under the community who are 

involved with the reasons of difficulty 

finding employment(Siswanto, 2017). 

As stated earlier, that this illicit drug 

trafficking case is a crime that is not 

only in a closed but actually well 

structured and can be done anywhere. 

 

 

The impact of drugs that can 

provide calm for the user then used as 

a drug that can relieve stress and 

create unconscious dependence. The 

number of cases of drug use among 

celebrities, state officials, even police 

officers make drugs more clearly felt 

necessary. Just imagine if the demand 

for the sale and purchase of drugs 

required by most of the upper class, 

who is not interested to sell with a big 

profit with security 



Muhammad Novan Prasetya & Sahla Rizky Deovanka 
 

201 
 

Regional Government Policy in Preventing Illegal Drug Trade   
  

 

is guaranteed because the request 

came from one of the police. 
 

The trafficking of drug 

trafficking that has been systema- 

tically organized and then glanced 

Indonesia as a potential market for 

international drug syndicates. This is 

because Indonesia has a large 

population, weak law enfor- cement 

and security, high drug user 

numbers, and unfavorable 

conditions(News, 2017).With the 

difficult economic situation, the 

number of unemployed, and the 

inadequate needs due to lack of 

income causes not a few people who 

decide to engage in illegal activities 

in order to get big profits, fast, and 

easy despite the risk. Drug 

trafficking can also be said to be one 

of the easiest businesses to enter 

Indonesia by requiring only 

resources and funds. Until now, it 

can be said that Indonesia has now 

become one of the main routes in the 

drug trade. Indonesia ogled because 

it is considered as a great market 

and good price(kompas, 2017). 
 
1. Data states that the entrance of 

Narcotics to the Indonesian 

territory by sea is 80% while the 

remaining 20% by land and air. 

In the area of North Sumatra, one 

of the sea lane with high drug 

access in the area of Medan 

Belawan. Belawan Port, 

 

 

Medan became one of a number 

of ports of particular concern to 

the authorities because of the 

prone smuggling of drugs. 88 

percent of drug smuggling from 

the sea by utilizing cooperative 

services to enter drugs so the 

mode can run smoothly because 

it has proximity to the local 

authoritie(F, 2016). As ever, 

police arrested three 

cooperative managers by 

confiscating some evidence 

related to drug smuggling. 
 
2. Uncontrolled supervision is also 

one of the causes of drug 

trafficking in Indonesia. In North 

Sumatra, with the increase of 

drug-bad status, it indicates that 

the handling of the maritime 

border areas is still less than the 

data obtained from the Police of 

North Sumatra that the number of 

suspected cases of drugs in 2015 

reached 6,267 people, and then 

increased in 2016 to 6,534 

people. Polres Pelawan Belawan 

itself occupies the second 

position with the number of 384 

cases with the number of 452 

suspects. The high number of 

drug abuse cases in North 

Sumatra due to the North 

Sumatra region is the entrance 

and transit of drugs from outside 

to Indonesia. 



202 Islamic World and Politics  
Vol.2. No.1 January-June 2018  

 

3. Due to demand from con- 

sumers in need of imported 

drug supplies, increasing drug 

abuse can be seen from the 

many prisoners of drug cases 

in prisons 
 
4. Strategic distribution is 

telling. Drug distribution 

strategies are conducted in 

stages-disconnected from 

supplier to user level. 

Similarly, the withdrawal of 

money from the sale of drugs, 

also done in stages-cut off to 

the collecting level. The 

modus operandi distributed by 

the drug syndicates is by using 

a variety of ways, including 

body packing, swallowed, 

hidden in certain items that 

are not thought in general. The 

modus operandi uses certain 

parties to open banking 

accounts and utilize money 

changer services either legal 

or illegal(Asril, 2016). 
 

From the above case study, it 

can be drawn a midline about the 

weakness of various policies related 

to drug abuse, it is not impossible 

that the increase of drugs in North 

Sumatra, Medan can be overcome. 

Narcotics distrbusi access is one of 

the important points in the effort to 

handle narcotics abuse in Medan. 

This can be seen from the number 

 
 
 
 

 

of entry gaps for the distribution of 

narcotics. Of course this handling 

is not easy to be done by certain 

parties, but must be followed by 

cooperation from various parties 

such as customs, pelindo, BNN, 

and the police. 
 

Conclusion 
 

Indonesia is a region with 

serious drug status. There are many 

found cases of narcotics abuse in 

Indonesia. In the era of globalization 

with the opening of all access to the 

world, drug abuse is increasingly 

widespread.Globalization relies on 

free access to commodities, one of 

which is narcotics. In other words, 

in terms of distribution access, 

Indonesia has the potential to 

become one of the transit areas of 

narcotics trade. Indonesia strategic 

(cross position), has become a drug 

producing country. For Indonesia, 

geopolitics is a policy in order to 

achieve national goals by utilizing 

the advantage of geographical 

position of the country based on 

scientific knowledge about the 

geographical conditions. The mode 

of illicit trafficking of international 

narcotics always involves foreign 

nationals and affects the territory of 

two or more countries and is always 

preceded by preparation or planning 

that is conducted outside 



Muhammad Novan Prasetya & Sahla Rizky Deovanka 
 

203 
 

Regional Government Policy in Preventing Illegal Drug Trade   
  

 

the territorial boundaries of certain 

countries. 
 

China as one of foreign 

exchange supplier to Indonesia But 

on the other hand, China is also one 

of the major narcotics suppliers to 

Indonesia. became a polemic in 

diplomatic relations between the two 

countries. As is known, the case of 

abuse of narcotics, the toughest 

punishment is the death penalty. 

However, this will turn out to be 

detrimental to diplomatic relations 

between the two countries. In the 

area of North Sumatra, one of the 

sea lane with high drug access in the 

area of Medan Belawan. Belawan 

Port, Medan became one of a 

number of ports of special concern 

to the apparatus because of the 

prone smuggling of drugs. 

 

References: 
 

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pedoman pencegahan 

penyalahgunaan narkoba bagi 
 
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Internasional: Teori dan 
 

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