BNN Suspects 3.37 Tonnes of Cannabis Buds in Gresik Were Destined for Narcotic Vape Production

The BNN apprehended 12 individuals during a raid on a warehouse containing 3.37 tonnes of cannabis buds in a warehouse district in Gresik Regency, East Java. The cannabis buds were suspected of being intended for distribution in the form of vape refill liquids.

BNN Head, Inspector General Suyudi Ario Seto, revealed that the cannabis buds were likely not intended for conventional distribution. Instead, they were to be used as raw material for producing tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) extract, which would subsequently be utilised as refill liquid (cartridges) for electronic cigarettes or vapes.

“From the seizure of approximately 3,371,400 grams, or about 3.37 tonnes, of cannabinoid flower buds, the joint team has successfully prevented the potential abuse of around 10,114,200 people, or in nominal terms, saved a potential economic value of Rp 4,585,104,000,000,” said Suyudi during a press conference in Gresik.

The joint team also detained 12 individuals suspected of being part of this international syndicate network. The group includes transport service entrepreneurs, company administrators, truck drivers, a port official, and a Chinese national who allegedly owns the warehouse in Gresik.

Preliminary investigations suggest the network is controlled by two foreign nationals residing outside Indonesian jurisdiction: a Malaysian national with the initials CKF (alias L) and a Chinese national with the initials ZL (alias J).

This discovery was the result of a joint operation between the BNN RI, the Directorate General of Customs and Excise of the Ministry of Finance, and the East Java Regional Police. The operation took place between 29 June and 1 July 2026 across several regions, including DKI Jakarta, Tangerang, Purwakarta, Surabaya, and Gresik.