Indonesian authorities have made the largest methamphetamine seizure in the country’s history, confiscating approximately two tons of the illicit drug from a vessel off Sumatra island, officials confirmed on Monday.
Golden Triangle Syndicate Behind Shipment
The National Narcotics Agency (BNN) revealed that the massive drug haul is believed to be linked to a criminal syndicate operating in the Golden Triangle—a notorious drug-producing region where the borders of Myanmar, Thailand, and Laos converge.
According to BNN chief Marthinus Hukom, the operation was the result of five months of intelligence and surveillance. Authorities intercepted the vessel, identified as “Sea Dragon Tarawa”, which was transporting the meth concealed in boxes.
“This seizure is the biggest drug discovery in the history of drug eradication in Indonesia,” Hukom stated at a press briefing.
International Operation and Arrests
Six individuals were arrested during the operation—four Indonesians and two Thai nationals. The drugs were reportedly en route to markets in Indonesia, Malaysia, and the Philippines.
The bust highlights a widening regional drug crisis, with Southeast Asia continuing to be a major target for transnational drug syndicates leveraging porous maritime borders and under-resourced enforcement agencies.
Previous Seizure Adds to Growing Drug Crisis
This historic seizure follows another major interdiction earlier this month when Indonesia’s navy confiscated nearly two tons of meth and cocaine, valued at approximately $425 million, also in western Indonesia. That operation led to the arrests of one Thai national and four Myanmar nationals.
According to a 2024 report from the U.N. Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), East and Southeast Asia saw a record 190 tons of meth seized in 2023, indicating the expanding reach of organized crime networks across the region.
Strict Penalties Under Indonesian Law
Indonesia enforces some of the harshest anti-narcotics laws in the world, with drug trafficking punishable by death. The government continues to prioritize a hardline approach to drug-related crime in the face of rising trafficking incidents.