Sunday, 25 October 2026
MEDAN | INDATANEWS.COM - The North Sumatra Provincial Government is working with the North Sumatra Regional Police to develop a special regulation aimed at strengthening efforts to combat drug trafficking. The initiative seeks to intensify prevention, improve the effectiveness of law enforcement and further restrict the activities of illegal drug networks across the province.
Governor Bobby Nasution proposed the initiative on Tuesday, 13 October 2026, during a courtesy visit by North Sumatra Police Chief Inspector General Sonny Irawan and senior police officers to the Governor's Office at Jalan Diponegoro No. 30 in Medan.
The meeting focused on strengthening cooperation between the provincial government and the police in tackling drug-related problems while safeguarding public safety and well-being. Their collaboration also covers support for tourism development, improvements to the investment climate and efforts to stimulate regional economic growth.
The provincial government believes that tackling drug-related problems requires planned, sustained and measurable action. Bobby therefore emphasised that police programmes should not be limited to ceremonial activities but must deliver tangible improvements for the public.
"I hope that the existing programmes of the Regional Police can be implemented jointly with the provincial government. Efforts to tackle the drug problem should not be merely ceremonial but must produce tangible results," Bobby Nasution said.
The meeting was also attended by North Sumatra Deputy Governor Surya and Acting Provincial Secretary Timur Tumanggor.
Bobby called on the North Sumatra Regional Police to jointly prepare a proposal for a special regulation, which could subsequently be discussed with the provincial Regional House of Representatives. The proposal is intended to provide a basis for a regional regulation supporting anti-drug efforts within the provincial government's remit and in accordance with applicable legislation.
The proposed regulation represents a step towards improving coordination between the provincial government and the police. Appropriate legal provisions would enable both institutions to align their prevention programmes more effectively, encourage public participation and strengthen measures against illegal drug trafficking.
However, drafting a regional regulation requires careful substantive deliberation and legal scrutiny to prevent conflicts with higher-level legislation. The regulation must also establish clear objectives, measurable implementation mechanisms and an unambiguous division of responsibilities among the institutions involved.
Bobby stressed the importance of expanding inspections along routes used to bring narcotics into the province and in areas with significant economic activity. Surveillance should focus particularly on strategic locations that drug networks may exploit to bring in and distribute illegal substances.
These measures must be accompanied by stronger public awareness initiatives. The provincial government and the police should educate residents about the dangers of drugs, encourage community involvement and improve coordination down to village level and within residential neighbourhoods.
A comprehensive approach is expected to curb illegal drug trafficking while helping residents better recognise and report suspected drug abuse and illicit trade. The effectiveness of the programmes should also be assessed through regular evaluations rather than measured solely by the number of events held or police operations conducted.
During the meeting, North Sumatra Police Chief Inspector General Sonny Irawan outlined three priority programmes that could be implemented jointly with the provincial government. They focus on combating drug trafficking, curbing street crime and improving road safety.
The first programme, Gerakan Masyarakat Tolak Narkoba (Germas Tolak Narkoba), is a public movement designed to mobilise communities against drugs. It adopts a comprehensive approach covering all stages of the fight against drugs, from their source to their distribution. The programme combines early education, preventive action and consistent law enforcement to strengthen prevention and tackle illegal trafficking.
The Regional Police intends to involve various community groups systematically, extending participation to village level and the smallest neighbourhood structures. Community involvement is expected to raise awareness of the dangers of drugs, improve early detection and foster an environment in which residents remain alert to illegal drug activities.
The second programme, Kompak, stands for Kolaborasi Pemberantasan Kejahatan Jalanan, meaning collaboration to combat street crime. It targets a range of offences committed in public spaces, including robbery, violent clashes between groups and intimidation by criminal gangs. Such offences can undermine public safety and disrupt residents' daily lives.
Through this programme, the police aim to create a safer environment for residents, businesses and tourists. Efforts to curb street crime are also intended to maintain public order in commercial centres, along major transport routes and in tourist destinations.
The third programme, Sahata, stands for Satu Hati Satu Kekuatan dalam Tertib Lalu Lintas, which conveys the idea of working together to improve road discipline. It focuses on public education and a community-oriented approach to enforcing traffic regulations. The programme is intended to encourage responsible driving, improve the safety of all road users and help traffic flow more smoothly.
The North Sumatra Regional Police also hopes that greater compliance with motor vehicle regulations will help optimise regional revenue from vehicle taxes. In this way, programmes designed to maintain safety and order could also improve traffic administration and strengthen the province's revenue base.
Alongside efforts to combat drugs, the provincial government and the Regional Police discussed the importance of security to tourism development. Sonny said North Sumatra had considerable potential for nature-based tourism. The Berastagi area and Karo Regency, in particular, offer attractions that could compete with popular destinations in West Java.
However, this natural potential must be supported by adequate infrastructure, good accessibility, high-quality services and reliable security and comfort. According to Sonny, these factors play a significant role in determining whether tourists decide to return to the region.
He also highlighted the province's economic activity and hotel occupancy rates, saying that their potential needed to be further developed. The police are therefore ready to support provincial government programmes through security measures in tourist destinations and efforts to maintain public order.
"When accessibility is good and security services ensure a pleasant stay, people will certainly return. We are ready to support and assist the Governor's programmes to increase the attractiveness of tourism in North Sumatra," Inspector General Sonny Irawan said.
A reliable security environment can help businesses operate under better conditions. Tourists who feel safe may also be more inclined to revisit the province. This could benefit the hotel industry, transport services, food and beverage businesses, retail trade and micro, small and medium-sized enterprises.
Conversely, illegal drug trafficking and high crime rates can undermine people's sense of security and weaken public confidence in their neighbourhoods and tourist destinations. Combating drugs and reducing street crime are therefore important elements in creating an environment that supports social and economic activity.
Cooperation between the provincial government and the police is intended not only to strengthen law enforcement but also to expand community-based prevention, improve public order and reinforce security services in tourist areas.
The North Sumatra Provincial Government and the Regional Police hope to align all these programmes closely with the province's regional development agenda. The proposed special regulation, implementation of the priority programmes and regular assessments of their results are intended to ensure that the partnership delivers tangible benefits to the public.
Through targeted, long-term measures, North Sumatra aims to curb illegal drug trafficking, reduce crime, strengthen public safety and improve the competitiveness of its tourism sector and its attractiveness to investors. Achieving these goals will require consistent implementation, coordination across institutions and active public participation to ensure that the benefits reach as many people as possible. (IDNC)
REPORTER: Ahmad Zulfikar | EDITOR: Fik Sagala
