Video Alleging Drug Use and Room Trading in Medan Detention Center Goes Viral; 500 Inmates Urine Tested

MEDAN, KOMPAS.com - A video alleging that inmates use drugs and engage in the buying and selling of rooms in the Class I Tanjung Gusta Detention Center in Medan, North Sumatra, has gone viral on social media.

In the video, an unidentified inmate wearing a black T-shirt is seen holding a small plastic clip suspected to contain methamphetamine.

The accompanying narration claims there is drug trafficking inside the Medan Detention Center.

Additionally, accusations of room trading practices and distribution of medication allegedly coming from the detention center’s clinic have also surfaced.

The Medan Class I Detention Center denied these allegations and urged the public not to immediately believe information circulating on social media without verification.

"We urge the public not to accept unverified information as truth. The information circulating on social media cannot simply be regarded as fact," said Yoslan Josua Hasurungan Doloksaribu, Head of Security at Medan Detention Center.

Yoslan stated that the content of the video and accompanying narration must be verified using evidence and official statements.

"We hope the public will not jump to conclusions based only on the video clip circulating on social media without proper verification," he said.

Medan Detention Center Raided, 500 Inmates Urine Tested

Following the video’s circulation, officers from the Medan Class I Detention Center, together with the police and North Sumatra’s National Narcotics Agency (BNN), conducted inspections in the inmate living blocks.

The inspection was carried out alongside Jalu Yusa Panjang, Head of the North Sumatra Regional Office of the Directorate General of Corrections, accompanied by Medan Detention Center Head Andi Surya.

The operation was led by Yoslan Doloksaribu.

The joint officers swept through inmate blocks and searched various corners of their rooms.

The raid involved the Gegana Task Force, police, TNI (Indonesian National Armed Forces), and BNN.

"Synergy between Gegana Task Force, Polres, Polsek, TNI, and BNN is the key to the success of this early detection," said Andi Surya, Head of Medan Class I Detention Center, on Friday (September 18, 2026).

During the search, officers found and seized items prohibited in the detention center.