LABUHANBATU SELATAN | INDATANEWS.COM ~ The drug threat in North Sumatra has escalated into what officials describe as a critical phase, no longer to be treated as an ordinary law enforcement issue. From Gang Pancasila in Kotapinang Village on Sunday (April 19, 2026), residents voiced strong opposition to the growing drug trade, demanding consistent legal action without double standards—especially against the perceived practice of "strict on the weak, lenient on the powerful."
Member of the North Sumatra Regional House of Representatives (DPRD) from the NasDem Party, H.T. Milwan, responded to these concerns during a public outreach program on the Draft Regional Regulation (Raperda) for 2025 concerning the prevention of narcotics, psychotropic substances, and other addictive drugs.
North Sumatra Faces Highest Drug Prevalence
Milwan stated that North Sumatra currently records the highest drug prevalence rate in Indonesia. He emphasized that the Labuhanbatu Raya region—covering Labuhanbatu Selatan, Labuhanbatu, and Labuhanbatu Utara—has already been categorized as a red zone.
"This is not merely a legal issue, but a systemic threat that is destroying the future of the region," he said. "If we remain silent, we are allowing our generation to slowly deteriorate."
RAPERDA SOCIALIZATION ON DRUG PREVENTION: Residents, North Sumatra DPRD members, and local stakeholders attend the event at Gang Pancasila in Kotapinang, where Labuhanbatu Selatan's status as a drug risk zone is discussed. (PHOTO: Jhon Fitra Sagala)
Raperda Targets Stronger Prevention and EnforcementMilwan stressed that all public concerns will be incorporated into the drafting process of the regulation. He rejected any notion that the policy should be merely symbolic.
"This regulation must be firm and enforceable. It should not only look good on paper but must be effective in implementation," he emphasized.
Community Calls for Firm Law Enforcement and Rehabilitation
On the ground, residents highlighted that drug networks are becoming increasingly organized, covert, and difficult to dismantle. Experts also warn that distribution channels are expanding into rural areas.
Dr. Faisal Andri Mahrawa noted, "Distribution has shifted. Villages that were once considered safe are now targets of expansion. This is dangerous because local social systems are not prepared."
Residents also voiced strong concerns. Novri, a local resident, emphasized the importance of rehabilitation efforts.
"We should not only be proud of arrests. Victims must also be saved. Without proper rehabilitation, the chain of addiction will never be fully broken," he said.
Meanwhile, Anas Harahap delivered a sharper critique, stating, "If there were real political will and legal determination, these networks could be dismantled. But currently, it feels like everything is stagnant—or even tolerated." (
IDNC)REPORTER: Jhon Fitra Sagala | EDITOR: Fik Sagala