Soekarno-Hatta Airport Police Dismantle International Cannabis Vape Syndicate
The Narcotics Investigation Unit of the Soekarno-Hatta Airport Police has dismantled an international narcotics network that produced and distributed vapes containing tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the psychoactive substance in cannabis. During the operation, police arrested three foreign nationals and uncovered a home industry production site in Bali.
Soekarno-Hatta Airport Police Chief, Senior Commissioner Wisnu Wardana, stated that the case began with the arrest of an American citizen with the initials BSM at Terminal 2 of Soekarno-Hatta International Airport on 13 April 2026. Further investigation led to a villa in Badung Regency, Bali, which was used as a THC vape production site. Police subsequently arrested two Tunisian nationals, identified as GNH and AEP, in Kediri, Tabanan Regency, Bali, on 20 April 2026.
“This success is the result of cooperation and synergy between the Soekarno-Hatta Airport Police Narcotics Unit, Customs and Excise, and related agencies. We will continue to take firm action against all forms of narcotics crime that threaten public safety,” Wisnu said in a written statement on Sunday (5/7/2026).
During the operation, police seized 2,134 grams of THC liquid, 18 ready-to-distribute THC vape cartridges, 322.99 grams of cannabis, 66.47 grams of MDMA, 4.51 grams of LSD, and one ecstasy pill. Officers also secured various equipment used to produce the THC vapes, including portable stoves, measuring cups, glycerine, empty cartridges, packaging devices, and communication tools.
Police revealed that BSM had been producing THC vapes since August 2023, with a capacity of approximately 2,000 cartridges per month. The products were marketed through social media and distributed using online motorcycle taxi services with a dead-drop system, while payments were made via bank transfers and cryptocurrency.
Meanwhile, GNH is suspected of acting as a supplier of various types of narcotics, while AEP was tasked with delivering the drugs to buyers in the Bali area. Police are also pursuing another suspect, identified as SR, who is believed to be the main supplier of cannabis and MDMA to the network.
Based on the investigation, the network is estimated to have had a potential monthly turnover of around Rp10 billion. With a production capacity of approximately 2,000 THC vape units per month and a selling price of around Rp5 million per unit, the total turnover from 2023 until the case was uncovered in 2026 is estimated to have reached approximately Rp300 billion. Police estimate that uncovering this case has prevented around 72,000 people from becoming THC vape abusers during the 2023 to 2026 period.
For their actions, the suspects are charged under Law Number 35 of 2009 on Narcotics. They face a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison, life imprisonment, or the death penalty, depending on their respective roles and the evidence presented at trial.
Wisnu called on the public to play an active role in reporting suspected narcotics abuse or illicit trafficking to the police. “We urge the public not to hesitate to report any form of narcotics abuse or illicit trafficking. Synergy between the police and the community is key to saving the nation’s generation from the dangers of drugs,” Wisnu said.