NNB Denies Arrest of Hipmi Chairman Candidate and Entourage from Bangkok

The National Narcotics Board (BNCT) has denied reports regarding the arrest of the Chairperson Candidate (Caketum) of the Indonesian Young Entrepreneurs Association (HIPMI) and a delegation arriving from Bangkok, Thailand.

The Head of the BNN Public Relations and Protocol Bureau, Brigadier General Putu Putera Sadana, confirmed that an operation was conducted to arrest 10 Indonesian citizens who tested positive for narcotics upon arrival from Bangkok at Soekarno-Hatta Airport on Monday night (8/6). However, he ensured that the arrests had no connection to the HIPMI Chairperson candidate or their entourage, as had been circulated on social media.

“There is no connection to that matter,” he stated when confirmed via text message on Wednesday (10/6).

Previously, the BNN arrested a total of 10 Indonesian citizens who tested positive for drugs while returning from Bangkok, Thailand. The arrest was carried out as part of the ‘Sapu Bersih Narkotika’ (Narcotics Clean Sweep) Sequence Operation at the International Terminal of Soekarno-Hatta Airport, Tangerang, on Monday (8/6).

The Head of BNN, Inspector General Suyudi Ario Seto, stated that this operation was a development of a case involving two Russian citizens, identified by the initials KK (52) and SK (40), who were carrying approximately 7.8 kg of hashish from Thailand.

“The team monitored flights arriving from Bangkok on the night of 8 June. At around 21:00 WIB, officers identified 14 Indonesian passengers for further inspection,” he said in a written statement on Wednesday (10/6).

He explained that of the 14 individuals inspected, 10 tested positive for the consumption of narcotics, including methamphetamine, THC, amphetamine, and cocaine, based on initial urine tests. The remaining four individuals tested negative.

“The ten positive passengers are identified by the initials M.M, FR, GAS, MA, ASM, DP, HP, MI, AN, and RA. During the inspection of luggage, officers discovered 22 grams of powder suspected to be ketamine in the suitcase belonging to HP,” he added.

Suyudi noted that the 10 individuals were categorised as light-use drug abusers or experimental users. Consequently, they will only undergo outpatient rehabilitation at the BNN RI IPWL Clinic in Cawang and are subject to mandatory reporting.

“On Wednesday, 10 June 2026, at 07:30 WIB, the users were released under the condition that they participate in the rehabilitation programme and adhere to mandatory reporting requirements,” he explained.