Indonesia Must Not Become a Transit or Market for Drug Networks: Minister

RRI.CO.ID, Jakarta – Indonesian Coordinating Minister for Political and Security Affairs, Djamari Chaniago, emphasized that surveillance of all entry and exit points must be strengthened to eradicate drug trafficking networks and transnational crime.

“Indonesia cannot be allowed to become a transit point, storage hub, or market for drug networks and transnational crime,” Minister Djamari said in a statement on Sunday, August 23, 2026.

He stressed that combating narcotics requires interagency cooperation from the planning stage through to field operations. “No single task can be carried out by one agency alone. It must be done collectively,” he said.

Minister Djamari noted that preventing the distribution of 2.6 metric tons of narcotics is highly significant for public safety. The seized drugs were estimated to have the potential to affect around 14 million people.

If all of them required six months of rehabilitation, the estimated cost would reach approximately IDR 140 trillion, based on a minimum rehabilitation cost of IDR 10 million per person.

He said the magnitude of this potential impact underscores the importance of prevention before narcotics become widely distributed. The government also ensures that eradication efforts will not be relaxed, even as drug networks continue seeking loopholes.

Indonesia’s geographical characteristics, with numerous entry points, pose a challenge in dismantling drug networks. This situation requires integrated monitoring of sea, air, and land routes.

The Head of the National Narcotics Agency (BNN), Police Com. Gen. Suyudi Ario Seto, said the Riau Islands face a high risk of narcotics smuggling due to their location in international waters.

BNN continues to conduct patrols and monitoring, including in cyberspace, to anticipate narcotics networks' activities. Information sharing has also been strengthened through cooperation with the Directorate General of Customs and Excise, the Indonesian Military, the National Police, and other relevant agencies.

“Smugglers are always trying to find loopholes to enter through the Riau Islands region. However, we are undeterred and will not stop our prevention efforts,” Suyudi said.

Meanwhile, Director General of Customs and Excise, Djaka Budhi Utama, said the recent bust was the result of collaboration among various parties. He said cooperation is vital to safeguarding Indonesia’s waters and borders from illegal activities.

“Customs and Excise will remain steadfast in safeguarding our borders and protecting the public. We are also committed to ensuring the national economy continues to grow healthily,” he said.

Earlier, a joint task force comprising BNN, Customs and Excise, and the Riau Islands Regional Police raided the MV Ocean Porter in the waters off Tanjung Balai Karimun on Monday, August 17. During the operation, Customs and Excise deployed patrol vessels BC 30005 and BC 20011, along with a K9 unit, to inspect the ship and its containers.

Officers then discovered a water tank containing approximately 2.6 metric tons of liquid narcotics inside a container. They also found hundreds of cartons of illegal cigarettes originating from China.

A total of 10 crew members, all Myanmar nationals, were apprehended during the operation. Authorities took all crew members and evidence for further investigation and processing. (Gusti Panji)