Jakarta: Indonesian authorities have seized approximately two tons of methamphetamine in what officials are calling the largest drug bust in the nation’s history. The massive haul was intercepted off the coast of Sumatra following a lengthy surveillance operation, the National Narcotics Agency (BNN) announced on Monday.
BNN chief Marthinus Hukom revealed that after five months of tracking, enforcement teams intercepted a vessel named Sea Dragon Tarawa. Onboard, they uncovered boxes filled with methamphetamine believed to originate from a trafficking network operating out of the Golden Triangle—a notorious drug-producing region where the borders of Myanmar, Thailand, and Laos converge.
Six individuals were arrested during the operation, including four Indonesians and two Thai nationals. According to Hukom, the narcotics were intended for distribution across Indonesia, as well as neighboring countries including Malaysia and the Philippines.
“This is the largest drug seizure in Indonesia’s anti-narcotics history,” Hukom stated during a press briefing.
This major bust comes on the heels of another significant operation earlier in the month, where Indonesian naval forces seized a separate vessel carrying close to two tons of meth and cocaine, estimated to be worth $425 million. That incident led to the arrest of one Thai and four Myanmar nationals.
A recent United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) report underscored the scale of the regional drug problem, noting that a record 190 tons of methamphetamine were confiscated in East and Southeast Asia in 2023. The report cited organized crime networks exploiting gaps in regional enforcement, with much of the trafficking occurring through the Gulf of Thailand.
Indonesia, known for its uncompromising stance on narcotics, enforces some of the harshest drug laws globally, including capital punishment for trafficking offenses.
