Soekarno-Hatta Airport a Narcotics Smuggling Hotspot, Customs Reveals 249 Cases

The Soekarno-Hatta International Airport area in Tangerang, Banten, has been categorised as a high-risk zone for narcotics smuggling from various supplier networks. This is evidenced by the results of 800 national enforcement actions by a joint team from the Directorate General of Customs and Excise and related law enforcement agencies, with the highest number of cases, 249, occurring at Soekarno-Hatta Airport. Syarif Hidayat, Director of Narcotics Interdiction at the Directorate General of Customs and Excise, stated in Tangerang on Thursday that the 249 smuggling cases demonstrate that Soekarno-Hatta International Airport serves as the main gateway and strategic entry point for goods from abroad. He urged all parties, including officers, airport management, and the public, to remain vigilant and carry out firm enforcement actions against such activities. Hidayat noted that the 800 narcotics cases across Indonesia show an increasing trend, with at least two to three smuggling attempts foiled daily. The total evidence seized from these cases reached 4.2 tonnes, potentially saving around 6.8 million people from drug dependency. He explained that if these goods had passed through, 6.8 million people in Indonesia could have been affected by narcotics, highlighting the immense danger and the need for extraordinary cooperation with domestic and international stakeholders. Based on the types of narcotics seized, domestic marijuana dominated the seizure volume, reaching 2.1 tonnes, with the majority of the local supply originating from North Sumatra and Aceh. Hidayat also noted an emerging trend of marijuana being smuggled from abroad specifically targeting foreign nationals in Bali.