Pontianak, W Kalimantan (ANTARA) - Indonesian border security forces foiled a methamphetamine smuggling attempt, seizing 21.9 kilograms of the drug at Pos Panga near the Indonesia–Malaysia border in Entikong Subdistrict, Sanggau District, West Kalimantan, a military officer said.
“This 21.9-kilogram meth shipment was secured by our personnel at Pos Panga. The discovery resulted from a tip-off from the public and interagency cooperation,” said Lt. Col. Andy Qomarudin, commander of the RI–Malaysia Western Sector Border Task Force, here Monday.
The drugs would be handed to higher command before being processed by the National Narcotics Agency (BNN) according to procedure.
The seizure followed a tip from locals who spotted suspicious items near their home. Residents alerted Pos Panga, prompting task force personnel to secure the area immediately.
CCTV footage from a nearby house helped investigators identify the suspects. The footage enabled authorities to track and apprehend the individuals involved.
“Initially, two suspects were arrested. Further investigation led to a third suspect. Authorities also seized a car and a motorcycle as evidence,” Andy said.
Investigators suspect the meth was smuggled through informal border routes frequently used by drug syndicates along the Indonesia–Malaysia frontier.
The operation involved coordination among the Border Task Force, Territorial and Intelligence Units, SGI, State Intelligence Agency (BIN), Customs, and local police in Entikong.
All evidence and suspects will be processed through the command chain to XII/Tanjungpura Regional Command before being handed to BNN for prosecution, officials said.
“All procedures will be followed. After the task force, the evidence will be handed to higher command and processed in Pontianak,” Andy added.
The task force vowed to tighten border monitoring to prevent illegal trafficking of narcotics and other dangerous goods through unofficial routes.
Indonesia enforces some of the world’s toughest drug laws, with major traffickers facing life imprisonment or the death penalty.
On Sept. 4, 2025, the Medan District Court in North Sumatra, for instance, sentenced M. Alfarisi, 36, to death for acting as a courier in the trafficking of nearly 4,833 ecstasy pills.
Despite these strict penalties, the country remains a lucrative market for drug syndicates, driven by its large population and millions of users.
The nation’s drug trade is valued at an estimated 66 trillion rupiah (US$4.3 billion), according to the National Narcotics Agency (BNN).
A BNN survey estimates that 3.4 million Indonesians use drugs—roughly 180 out of every 10,000 people aged 15 to 64.
