BNN Uncovers Warehouse in Gresik, Seizes 3.37 Tonnes of Thai Cannabis Buds

The National Narcotics Agency (BNN) has uncovered an international narcotics network smuggling 3.37 tonnes of cannabinoid flower buds (cannabis buds) from Thailand through official import channels. The evidence was found in a warehouse in the Prambanan Bizland Industrial Estate, Cerme District, Gresik Regency, East Java. BNN Chief Commissioner General Suyudi Ario Seto stated that the discovery was the result of cooperation between BNN RI, the Directorate General of Customs and Excise, and the East Java Regional Police in a joint operation that took place from 29 June to 1 July 2026. Suyudi said this case is the first discovery in Indonesia of an attempt to smuggle cannabinoid flower buds from Thailand via official import routes, concealed among piles of suitcases and latex products with seemingly legitimate customs documents. “Based on intelligence information, these cannabinoid flower buds were planned to be used as raw material to produce tetrahydrocannabinol or THC extract, which would then be utilised as refill liquid or cartridges for electronic cigarettes,” Suyudi said in Gresik on Thursday (2/7). Suyudi stated the joint team seized 3.37 tonnes, or 3,371,400 grams gross, of narcotics from four containers and detained 12 suspected perpetrators who are currently undergoing further investigation. “The joint team successfully secured 12 suspected perpetrators who are still under further investigation and examination, and from this operation the state managed to seize a very large amount of evidence, namely 3.37 tonnes or 3,371,400 grams gross of narcotics from four containers,” he said. According to him, this seizure is estimated to have saved more than 10 million young lives from the threat of drug abuse and prevented enormous potential economic losses. “From this seizure, we have saved the potential abuse against 10,114,200 souls of the nation’s generation while preventing potential economic losses reaching IDR 4,585,104,000,000,” he said. Meanwhile, Director General of Customs and Excise Jaka Budi Utama said the case began with officers’ suspicions during an inspection of goods at Tanjung Priok Port. “This was uncovered when an anomaly occurred at Tanjung Priok Port during an X-ray examination; an anomaly was found, there were suspicious goods or commodities,” Jaka said. Jaka added that his party then coordinated with the BNN and carried out a controlled delivery technique until the evidence arrived at a warehouse in Gresik. “We conducted checks and tests on the suspected goods. After determining that they were prohibited items, we coordinated closely with the BNN so that a controlled delivery was carried out all the way to Gresik,” he said. On the other hand, BNN RI Deputy for Eradication Inspector General Aswin Sipayung detailed that the syndicate smuggling the cannabinoid flower bud narcotics used a method of hiding the goods in hundreds of suitcases and bales of latex cardboard. “This syndicate used a modus operandi of official route importation by hiding the narcotics inside 500 suitcases and 80 bales of latex cardboard,” Aswin said. Aswin revealed that of the 12 suspects detained, one is a foreign national who acted as the warehouse owner. The BNN is also pursuing two other foreign nationals suspected of being the network’s controllers from abroad. “We are also pursuing two foreign nationals identified as the main controllers of this network abroad. I emphasise that the pursuit will not stop. We will chase the controllers who are now abroad until we find them and bring them to Indonesia,” he said. Besides Gresik, the BNN also secured one container containing approximately 20 kilograms of similar evidence in Purwakarta, West Java, which is also currently under further development. “There is one more location, which happens to also be in the Java region, in West Java, in Purwakarta. So we secured one container in Purwakarta, then we also conducted an inspection there. There was about 20 kilos of evidence and we are developing it at the Customs office in Purwakarta,” he said. Aswin stated that this new type of narcotic was planned to be distributed to several major cities in Indonesia, with Bali as the largest target market. “For the distribution of the evidence we are releasing now, totalling 3.3 million tonnes, it was to be distributed throughout Indonesia, especially major cities like Bali, East Java here, Jakarta, Semarang, South Sumatra, and other big cities like Balikpapan. Perhaps the largest distribution is in the Bali region,” he said. He emphasised that this network is relatively new and has the potential to become a raw material for producing vape liquid targeting the younger generation. “This is a new network. This one is a new network, which also has the potential to become raw material for making narcotics, raw material from cannabis which will later be extracted into the contents of electronic cigarette cartridges,” he said. From a medical perspective, Aswin warned of the dangers of the cannabinoid content, which can attack the brain’s nerves and lungs, affecting the health of its users. “According to medical experts, the side effects will attack the brain’s nerves, then the lungs, and also the psychology of the user. If acute, it can be fatal, or for the psychology,” he said.