An Australian citizen is among the 285 individuals apprehended in Indonesia during a significant anti-drug operation, which resulted in the seizure of over 500 kilograms of various narcotics across a two-month period. This crackdown, which took place from April to June, spanned 20 provinces and also revealed money laundering activities tied to two drug syndicates, with assets totalling approximately 26 billion rupiah (around $2.4 million) being confiscated.
Despite Indonesia’s stringent drug laws, where offenders may face execution, the country remains a major centre for drug trafficking in South-East Asia. Marthinus Hukom, head of the National Narcotics Agency, announced that 36 suspects, including 21 women – mostly identified as housewives, were publicly displayed along with the confiscated drugs. Hukom urged Indonesian women to be cautious about their relationships, both in person and online.
Budi Wibowo, an agency deputy, reported that authorities confiscated significant amounts of drugs, including 683,885 grams of crystal meth, marijuana, ecstasy, THC, hashish, and various amphetamines. He noted that this bust prevented over 1.3 million people from potentially accessing these substances. The operation also highlighted the diverse methods used by drug syndicates for distributing narcotics, including land and sea transport as well as postal services.
The seven foreign detainees included the Australian, an American, two Kazakhs, two Malaysians, and an Indian national. The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime suggests that Indonesia’s young population makes the country an attractive target for international drug trafficking networks.
In a different operation in Riau Island, authorities uncovered two smuggling incidents in May, leading to the recovery of 2.7 tonnes of crystal meth and 1.2 tonnes of ketamine. Throughout 2023, Indonesian authorities addressed more than 52,000 drug-related cases, seizing 6.2 tonnes of crystal meth, 1.1 tonnes of marijuana, and several types of synthetic narcotics. This number is said to have risen in 2024, with over 56,000 drug cases reported and total seizures exceeding 7.5 tonnes of crystal meth and 3.3 tonnes of marijuana, valued at approximately 7.5 trillion rupiah (around $711.2 million).
Earlier in the month, three British nationals faced charges for attempting to smuggle nearly a kilogram of cocaine into Bali, risking the death penalty under Indonesia’s harsh drug legislation. Currently, around 530 individuals, including 96 foreigners, sit on death row for drug-related offences, with the last executions having occurred in July 2016.