BNN Chief Proposes Wiretapping Can Be Conducted from Investigation Stage
Jakarta (ANTARA) - The Head of the National Narcotics Agency (BNN), Suyudi Ario Seto, has proposed that the mechanism for wiretapping in efforts to combat narcotics cases should be permissible from the investigation stage, which needs to be regulated in the Narcotics and Psychotropics Bill.
He stated that the new Criminal Procedure Code (KUHAP) has restricted wiretapping authority solely to the inquiry stage. However, he believes that such authority is also crucial from the investigation phase and is an inseparable part of fulfilling the elements of criminal offences.
“Wiretapping authority granted from the early stage could serve as initial material or screening to determine legal status and subsequent legal actions,” Suyudi said during a meeting with Commission III of the House of Representatives (DPR RI) at the parliamentary complex in Jakarta on Tuesday.
Through wiretapping at the investigation stage, according to him, the legal status of subjects can be confirmed—whether they are merely users or involved as part of narcotics distribution networks.
In addition, he explained that the characteristics of narcotics crimes involve operating very silently. Therefore, wiretapping is needed as a special investigation technique, which is essentially covert or undercover intelligence activity.
“The purpose is not to directly obtain evidence for prosecution, but purely to gather preliminary evidence and map criminal networks that are often invisible on the surface,” he said.
According to him, the proposal aligns with the strategic views of the National Police (Polri) and has been supported by the new KUHAP, which provides room for the wiretapping mechanism to be regulated through separate rules or lex specialis, via the Narcotics and Psychotropics Bill.
“In implementing the evidence provisions under Article 86 of Law No. 35 of 2009, this has also been concretised as the result of wiretapping, so the Narcotics Bill must explicitly regulate wiretapping,” he stated.