Illegal drug smuggling from Malaysia to North Sumatera has increased 300 percent as of August this year, the provincial Customs and Excise Office says.
The office said it had foiled 15 smuggling attempts up to August, drastically up from the five cases it thwarted last year.
Data from the office showed ecstasy, heroin and crystal methamphetamine (locally known as shabu-shabu) were the drugs most frequently smuggled to the province through Nibung Bay, Poloni Airport and Belawan Port.
Customs director Anwar Supriadi said his office had deployed five ships with 100 personnel to monitor all possible gateways for bringing drugs in.
“We are serious in handling this issue. We have ordered three more ships to make it easier for us to foil all possible smuggling attempts and expect to have them operating by December,” Anwar said.
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