Indonesia and Malaysia Share Responsibility to Protect Region from Narcotics Trafficking

Jakarta (ANTARA) - Indonesia’s National Narcotics Agency (BNN) states that Indonesia and Malaysia share responsibility in safeguarding the region from the threat of narcotics trafficking.

In a bilateral meeting with Malaysia’s Narcotics Crime Investigation Department (JSJN) in Bali on Tuesday (28/4), the Head of BNN Indonesia, Police Commissioner General Suyudi Ario Seto, emphasised that narcotics represent a transnational crime requiring close cooperation between countries.

“Strengthening coordination, rapid information exchange, and increased surveillance in border areas, airports, and ports are important steps in joint handling,” Suyudi said in a statement confirmed in Jakarta on Friday.

Suyudi noted that one area of concern is the misuse of etomidate, including in the form of electronic cigarettes or vapes, which was uncovered through a case involving a clandestine laboratory in Bali.

Additionally, the Golden Triangle route remains a primary pathway for narcotics entering Indonesia, with Malaysia serving as one of the transit countries in the regional trafficking map.

The meeting with JSJN Director Hussein Omar Khan marks the first since both officials assumed their positions, taking place on the sidelines of the Colombo Plan Drug Advisory Programme (CPDAP) activities.

Both parties also discussed strengthening cooperation in network tracking (back tracking), financial flow tracing (financial tracking), and the utilisation of Mutual Legal Assistance (MLA) for the seizure of assets from cross-border narcotics crimes.

Indonesia and Malaysia agreed to establish more responsive and sustainable communication channels to ensure that law enforcement actions can be carried out swiftly and effectively in breaking the narcotics trafficking chain in the region.