International Drug Network Targets West Java; 6 Kg of Meth from Laos Fails to Enter Bandung

Bandung — The West Java Police’s Directorate of Narcotics (Ditnarkoba) has thwarted the shipment of six kilograms of methamphetamine from Laos intended for distribution in Indonesia, particularly West Java. Five suspects have been detained.

“We uncovered an international narcotics network; the drugs were sent from Laos, including the Golden Triangle area—almost five kilograms—with six suspects,” said Kombes Pol Albert Nugroho, Director of Narcotics at West Java Police, at a press conference on Wednesday, 13 May 2026.

He said authorities remain committed to dismantling international networks entering Indonesia. The six kilograms of meth were sent directly to Bandung from Laos.

He added that from April to mid-May, officers across the police in the region had opened 474 police reports with 593 suspects. They seized 1,579 psychotropic tablets including those linked to the May Day riots.

In addition, 1.5 kilograms of cannabis, 71 ecstasy tablets, 3 kilograms of synthetic tobacco, and 559,819 hard drugs tablets were seized. He noted these medicines were logged as being registered to a factory.

“The medicines seized were registered as belonging to a factory,” he said.

Officials found several pharmacies purchasing medicines without prescriptions or not in accordance with the prescribing doctors’ competencies. “We are continuing to probe because these medicines are so easily available at pharmacies at prices that are relatively cheap,” he said.

He continued that the 593 suspects arrested came from various backgrounds including producers, distributors and users. The authorities apply restorative justice for rehabilitation of users.

“We must implement rehab for suspects or users who have used only once, their urine tests positive, and there is no evidence when caught,” he said.

Meanwhile, Hendra Rochmawan, Head of Public Relations for West Java Police, said suspects are charged under Article 235 of the Indonesian Penal Code and Article 609(2) of Law No. 1 of 2023 on the Penal Code and Law No. 1 of 2026 on the adjustment of criminal sanctions. With maximum penalties including the death penalty, or life imprisonment, and minimum fines of Rp 2 billion.