Makassar BBPOM seizes 96,000 illegal drug tablets

Makassar (ANTARA) - Investigators from the Makassar Major Drug and Food Supervisory Agency (BBPOM) have seized 96,000 illegal Trihexyphenidyl (THP) tablets in an enforcement operation at the beginning of April 2026. “This is a demonstration of our commitment to protecting the public from substandard medicinal products. Drug crimes are serious offences with widespread impacts,” stated the Head of BBPOM Makassar, Yosef Dwi Irwan, in Makassar on Monday. He explained that the case was uncovered through a controlled delivery method following intelligence from the BPOM Intelligence Directorate regarding a suspicious package shipment to Makassar, which was followed up in collaboration with the South Sulawesi Police’s Criminal Investigation Directorate. Subsequently, on Tuesday (7/4), a joint team monitored the package until it arrived at a house in the Maccini Gusung sub-district, Makassar, where they found two parcels containing 96 bottles, each with 1,000 tablets lacking labels or identification. Laboratory tests by BBPOM Makassar confirmed that the tablets contained 4.16 mg of Trihexyphenidyl per tablet, classifying it as a hard drug that may only be used with a doctor’s prescription. “If misused, this drug can cause hallucinations, dependency, decreased consciousness, and respiratory disorders that may lead to death,” he said. In this case, investigators have named one suspect with initials S (58), who is now detained at the South Sulawesi Police Detention Centre and charged under Article 435 in conjunction with Article 138 paragraph (2) of Law No. 17 of 2023 on Health, with a maximum penalty of 12 years’ imprisonment or a fine of Rp5 billion. An officer from the South Sulawesi Police Criminal Investigation Unit, Kompol Bayu Wicaksono, emphasised that they will continue to provide a sense of security and take firm action against perpetrators of illegal drug distribution, as such crimes are serious threats to public health and safety. Meanwhile, BBPOM Makassar estimates the economic value of the seized goods at around Rp192 million, and this enforcement has prevented potential misuse by approximately 9,600 people. Therefore, they urge the public to apply the “Check KLIK” principle and not to be easily swayed by misleading drug promotions. The “Check KLIK” principle is an educational slogan or campaign from BPOM to help the public be more thorough before purchasing or consuming medicinal and food products by checking the Packaging, Label, Distribution Permit, and Expiry Date.