BNN: 3.37 Tonnes of Cannabis Buds Entered Indonesia via Official Import Channels

The National Narcotics Agency (BNN) of the Republic of Indonesia has uncovered a smuggling method involving 3.37 tonnes of cannabinoid flower buds from Thailand, which were seized at a warehouse in the Prambanan Bizland Industrial Estate, Cerme District, Gresik Regency, East Java. Head of BNN RI, Police Commissioner General Suyudi Ario Seto, stated that the 3.37 tonnes of cannabis buds entered Indonesia through official import channels with customs documents that appeared legitimate. “They attempted to exploit gaps in international trade, infiltrating through semi-import channels and disguising their crime as a legitimate economic activity,” Suyudi said in Gresik on Thursday (2/7). He explained that the illicit goods were concealed among piles of suitcases and latex products, complete with valid customs documents to deceive officers. “The prohibited goods were disguised among piles of suitcases and latex products, equipped with customs documents that appeared legitimate, as if the state was being deceived by such meticulous administration,” he stated. Meanwhile, Director General of Customs and Excise RI, Jaka Budi Utama, revealed that the smuggling was first detected when officers became suspicious of an anomalous commodity during a routine inspection at Tanjung Priok Port. “This was uncovered when an anomaly was detected at Tanjung Priok Port during an X-ray examination; suspicious goods or commodities were found,” Jaka said. He explained that after confirming the items were prohibited, officers did not make an immediate arrest at the port but instead coordinated with the BNN to track the wider network using a controlled delivery technique. “We conducted checks and tests on the suspected goods. After determining they were prohibited items, we coordinated closely with the BNN. A controlled delivery was then carried out all the way to Gresik. If we had not done that and only made an arrest at the port, we certainly would not have achieved anything,” he said. Jaka noted that the tracking process involved a joint team from Customs and the BNN until they finally located the storage warehouse in Gresik. “We therefore decided on close coordination, followed by several members from both the BNN and Customs, enabling us to reach this warehouse and uncover approximately 3.37 tonnes,” he said. BNN RI Deputy for Eradication, Inspector General Aswin Sipayung, added that the tracking operation lasted several days before the evidence was finally secured. “In an operation lasting from 29 June to 1 July 2026, from Tanjung Priok Port to a warehouse in the Gresik area, the joint team successfully seized a very large amount of evidence, namely 3.37 tonnes of cannabis flower buds or cannabinoid,” Aswin said. Aswin detailed that the syndicate hid the evidence inside hundreds of suitcases and bales of latex cardboard boxes to avoid easy detection. “This syndicate used a modus operandi of official importation by concealing the narcotics inside 500 suitcases and 80 bales of latex cardboard boxes,” he said. At least 12 suspected individuals have been named as suspects in the case of smuggling 3.37 tonnes of cannabis buds from Thailand, including one foreign national who acted as the owner of the warehouse in Gresik. “To date, the team has secured and examined 12 suspected perpetrators in various regions, including one foreign national who is the warehouse owner,” Aswin said. He added that the BNN is also pursuing two other foreign nationals believed to be the main controllers of this network from abroad. “We are also hunting two foreign nationals identified as the main controllers of this network overseas. I emphasise that the pursuit will not stop. We will chase the controllers currently abroad until they are found and we bring them to Indonesia,” he asserted. The uncovering and seizure of 3.37 tonnes of cannabis buds from Thailand is said to have successfully saved more than 10 million young lives from the threat of drug abuse while preventing potential economic losses amounting to Rp4,585,104,000,000.