Indonesia Must Not Become Transit Point for Illegal Goods, Says Top Security Minister

Coordinating Minister for Political and Security Affairs Djamari Chaniago has stressed that Indonesia must not become a transit point, storage site or market for illegal goods entering through transnational crime networks.

The statement was made by Djamari while attending the destruction of evidence comprising 1.3 tonnes of ketamine seized from a foiled smuggling attempt via sea routes at the Fourth Regional Naval Command (Kodaeral IV) headquarters in Batam, Riau Islands, on Wednesday.

“This sends a message to all parties that Indonesia must not become a transit point, a storage site or a market for transnational crime,” he said.

Djamari said Indonesia has a vast number of entry points, so surveillance of smuggling routes needs to be continuously strengthened, particularly in border areas such as the Riau Islands.

According to him, the success of the seizure should not be measured solely by the quantity of evidence confiscated, but also by the ability of the authorities to detect and dismantle the international networks carrying out the smuggling.

“What I want to emphasise is that this seizure is not just about the quantity of evidence confiscated. What is far more important is the state’s ability to detect, stop and dismantle international networks that smuggle illegal goods,” he said.

Meanwhile, Navy Chief of Staff Admiral TNI Muhammad Ali said the seizure demonstrates the importance of inter-agency synergy in tackling crime and smuggling via sea routes.

He noted that the economic value of the various violations successfully prevented throughout 2026 is cumulatively estimated to reach Rp12.4 trillion.

“This is the result of synergy and collaboration between agencies in tackling crime and smuggling via sea routes,” he said.

Ali said the effort forms part of strengthening surveillance and law enforcement in Indonesian waters.