BNN foils smuggling of 3.37 tonnes of cannabinoid buds from Thailand

The National Narcotics Agency (BNN) of Indonesia has foiled the smuggling of 3.37 tonnes of cannabinoid flower buds from Thailand and arrested 12 suspects, including a foreign national, in the uncovering of an international narcotics network.

BNN Chief Commissioner General of Police (Komjen Pol) Suyudi Ario Seto stated during a press conference in Gresik, East Java, that the disclosure resulted from synergy between BNN, the Directorate General of Customs and Excise, and the Indonesian National Police.

“We have secured 12 suspects, all of whom played different roles in the network. Of that number, one is known to be a foreign national, while a warehouse in Gresik Regency was used as a storage location before distribution,” he said.

From the case uncovered in Gresik, evidence seized amounted to 3,371,400 grammes, or a gross weight equivalent to 3.37 tonnes, of cannabinoid flower buds smuggled using import documents with a camouflage modus operandi as latex products.

“Preliminary investigation results indicate the network is suspected to be controlled by a Malaysian citizen with the initials CKF alias L and a Chinese citizen with the initials ZI alias J,” he said.

Meanwhile, BNN Deputy for Eradication Inspector General of Police Aswin Sipayung stated that examination of the suspects revealed the narcotics were planned to be processed into materials for electronic cigarettes or vapes before being distributed in Indonesia.

According to him, the disclosure demonstrates a shift in the modus operandi of international narcotics networks, which are exploiting trade and customs routes to smuggle narcotics into Indonesia.