Jakarta. President Prabowo Subianto on Wednesday reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to eradicating narcotics “down to the roots” as Indonesia destroyed a record 214.84 tons of seized drugs, the largest haul ever confiscated by the National Police (Polri).

Speaking at the Bhayangkara Field in Jakarta, Prabowo called for stronger collaboration between law enforcement and the public to combat drug cartels and trafficking networks, particularly along Indonesia’s vast coastlines and small ports.

“At thousands of illegal ports, we must confront this threat with our national tradition: unity,” Prabowo said in a fiery address.

The destruction marked the culmination of narcotics seizures made between October 2024 and October 2025, according to the National Police’s Criminal Investigation Department. The massive haul included marijuana, methamphetamine, ecstasy, synthetic tobacco, cocaine, heroin, and ketamine.

Prabowo said the fight against drugs is not solely the responsibility of the police or military but a shared national duty. He described citizens as the “eyes and ears” of the state, crucial for detecting suspicious activities in their communities.

“Soldiers and police must serve the people. When citizens report something suspicious, like a ship docking at night, that’s a warning. They wouldn’t land on a dark beach if they are not up to something,” he said.

The president also warned that drug smuggling methods are becoming increasingly sophisticated, with cartels allegedly using submarines and advanced logistics. He urged closer coordination among the military, police, prosecutors, and customs authorities to prevent gaps in enforcement.

“We must work as a team. Our loyalty is one, to the red and white, to the Republic of Indonesia,” Prabowo declared.

“If we lose the war on drugs, it will be impossible for us to become a developed nation,” he added.

According to National Police data, authorities uncovered 38,934 drug-related cases and arrested 51,763 suspects between January and October 2025, seizing 197.71 tons of narcotics during that period.

The seizures included 184.64 tons of marijuana, 6.95 tons of methamphetamine, more than 1.45 million ecstasy pills, and nearly 2 tons of synthetic tobacco, along with smaller quantities of cocaine, heroin, and ketamine.

Polri has also pursued money laundering cases linked to drug trafficking. Between January and October 2025, police confiscated Rp 221.3 billion ($13.3 million) in assets from 22 cases involving 29 suspects. The seizures included Rp 18.8 billion in cash and around Rp 202.5 billion in movable and immovable assets.

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