NNB Denies Arrest of Hipmi Chairman Candidate and Entourage from Bangkok

The National Narcotics Agency (BNN) has denied reports of the arrest of a Candidate for Chairman (Caketum) of the Indonesian Young Entrepreneurs Association (Hipmi) and his entourage upon arrival from Bangkok, Thailand. Head of the BNN Public Relations and Protocol Bureau, Brigadier General Putu Putera Sadana, confirmed there was an operation arresting 10 Indonesian citizens who tested positive for drugs from Bangkok, Thailand at Soekarno-Hatta Airport on Monday evening (8/6). However, he asserted the arrests had no connection to the Hipmi chairman candidate or his group, contrary to viral social media claims. ‘There is no connection to that matter,’ he said when confirmed via text message on Wednesday (10/6). Previously, the BNN arrested a total of 10 Indonesian citizens who tested positive for drugs upon returning from Bangkok, Thailand. The arrests were made through the ‘Clean Sweep of Narcotics’ sequential operation at the International Terminal of Soekarno-Hatta Airport, Tangerang, on Monday (8/6). BNN Chief Commissioner General Suyudi Ario Seto stated the operation was the result of developing a case involving two Russian nationals with the initials KK (52) and SK (40) who were carrying 7.8 kg gross of hashish from Thailand. ‘The team monitored the arrival of flights from Bangkok on the evening of 8 June. Around 21.00 WIB, officers identified 14 Indonesian passengers for further examination,’ he said in a written statement on Wednesday (10/6). He explained that of the 14 people examined, 10 tested positive for consuming narcotics, including methamphetamine, THC, amphetamine, and cocaine, based on initial urine tests, while the other four were negative. ‘The ten positive passengers had the initials M.M, FR, GAS, MA, ASM, DP, HP, MI, AN, and RA. During baggage inspection, officers found 22 grams of powder suspected to be ketamine in HP’s suitcase,’ he stated. Suyudi said the ten individuals were subsequently categorised as light users or experimental users, meaning they will only face outpatient rehabilitation at the BNN RI Cawang IPWL Clinic and are required to report regularly. ‘On Wednesday, 10 June 2026, at 07.30 WIB, the users were released on the condition of following the rehabilitation programme and mandatory reporting,’ he explained.