Yesterday's News: Search for Missing Journalists Continues Amid Discovery of Illegal Herbal Medicines
Several humanitarian and public safety events occurred across the country on Friday (11/9). These include the ongoing investigation by Search and Rescue (SAR) teams regarding a life jacket found near Mount Anak Krakatau, and the Indonesian Food and Drug Authority (BPOM) revealing 31 names of illegal herbal medicines and health supplements.
SAR teams are currently investigating the discovery of a life jacket in the Mount Anak Krakatau area to determine if the safety equipment is linked to the team of journalists who lost contact and are currently the subject of a search operation.
“Regarding the identification of the life jacket, we have coordinated with the Regional Police, including the Marine and Air Police. Today, we will further investigate and examine the object found; I hope everyone remains patient, as the Marine and Air Police will later report the results of the investigation and examination,” said the Head of the Banten SAR Office, Al Amrad, at the Marina Carita SAR Post.
On the fourth day of the search, the National Search and Rescue Agency (Basarnas) has expanded its operations to four sectors, deploying 13 vessels to locate the five journalists who went missing while covering the eruption of Mount Anak Krakatau.
Al Amrad stated that the 13 pieces of equipment deployed for the fourth day of the operation include KRI Kerambat 627, KN SAR Tetuka, KP Hayabusa, KN SAR Basudewa, KRI Leuser 924, KAL Anyer, KP Sanjaya, RIB 02 Banten, RBB P Peucang, RIB Lampung, KAL Pahowang, TB Gunung Santri, and KRI Lepu.
“For today, we are mobilising 13 assets divided into four sectors,” he said at the Marina Carita SAR Post in Pandeglang, Banten, on Friday.
The joint SAR team is concentrating the search for the missing journalists within the immediate radius of Mount Anak Krakatau on the fourth day of the operation.
Al Amrad explained that the search is focused on four sectors and one special sector on islands located approximately 3 km from Mount Anak Krakatau. For the special sector outside the previous four, the team has deployed KN SAR Tetuka and RIB 02 Banten. The RIB 02 returned to Marina Pier at 15:31 WIB after sweeping the area around Anak Krakatau and searching three specific islands (Rakata Island, Sertung Island, and Panjang Island), including land-based searches.
The Indonesian Food and Drug Authority (BPOM) has discovered 31 illegal natural herbal medicines (OBA) or health supplements, 30 of which contain unauthorised drug chemicals (BKO), during monitoring between May and June 2026.
Speaking in Jakarta on Friday, the Head of BPOM, Taruna Ikrar, stated that of the 31 products, 15 listed fictitious Distribution Permit Numbers (NIE) and 16 products were not registered with BPOM. Products without a permit or those using fictitious numbers lack guarantees regarding safety, efficacy, or quality, as they have not undergone BPOM evaluation.
“Products containing unauthorised chemicals are promoted with various claims, ranging from male stamina/potency, aches and pains/gout/joint pain/rheumatism, itching, coughs, weight loss, to weight gain,” said Taruna Ikrar.