Head of Indonesia's National Narcotics Agency Pushes for Balanced Approach to Narcotics Handling
Jakarta (ANTARA) - Head of Indonesia’s National Narcotics Agency (BNN), Police Commissioner General Suyudi Ario Seto, is pushing for a balanced approach in handling narcotics.
“This can be achieved through simultaneous reduction of supply and demand, strengthening international cooperation, prioritising humanitarian values, and developing evidence-based rehabilitation services,” said Police Commissioner General Suyudi, as quoted from a statement confirmed in Jakarta on Tuesday.
To that end, the BNN head recently led Indonesia’s delegation at the 69th Session of the Commission on Narcotic Drugs (CND) in Vienna, Austria, to bolster international cooperation.
Indonesia’s participation in the forum organised by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) reaffirms the Indonesian Government’s commitment to strengthening global efforts in addressing narcotics issues.
During the forum, held from 9 to 13 March 2026, Suyudi delivered a national statement and opened a seminar themed “Vape and Narcotics: A Bad Combination - Addressing Narcotics-Contaminated Vaping Products through Preventive, Regulatory and Cooperative Frameworks.”
The event was organised by BNN RI with support from the governments of Singapore, Thailand, the UNODC Regional Office for Southeast Asia and the Pacific in Bangkok, and Belgium.
The seminar discussed the rising trend of misuse of electronic cigarette devices (vapes) as a medium for consuming narcotics and other psychoactive substances.
It was stated that this phenomenon poses new challenges because narcotics-contaminated e-cigarette liquids risk causing serious health impacts and complicate detection and monitoring processes.
The forum also encouraged strengthening regulations, early warning systems, and international cooperation to address this trend.
Additionally, the Head of BNN RI opened an exhibition organised by the Indonesian government themed “Enhancing International Cooperation for Future Development Starting from Children: Ananda Bersinar to Address Drug Challenges.”
The exhibition showcased the works of BNN’s rehabilitated beneficiaries towards independence and productivity to protect the community, especially children, from narcotics threats through the National Anti-Narcotics Action and National Resilience Starting from Children programme (Ananda Bersinar).
Suyudi also attended the voting on the reclassification of several substances, including coca leaves, MDMB-FUBINACA, N-pyrrolidino isotonitazene, and N-desethyl etonitazene, as part of the international mechanism for controlling dangerous substances.
Indonesia’s active participation in the 69th CND Session reflects the government’s commitment to continuously strengthening international cooperation and prioritising a comprehensive approach in facing increasingly complex narcotics challenges.