Indonesia Hunts Malaysian, Chinese Suspects Over 3.37-Ton Thai Cannabis Bust
Gresik, E. Java. Indonesian authorities have named two foreign nationals as fugitives after dismantling what they describe as one of the country's largest international cannabis smuggling operations, seizing 3.37 metric tons of high-potency cannabis buds allegedly destined for use in vape products.
The National Narcotics Agency (BNN) said Thursday it is pursuing a Malaysian citizen identified as CKF, also known as L, and a Chinese national identified as ZL, also known as J, who are believed to be the masterminds behind the cross-border trafficking network.
"We have identified two foreign nationals as the main controllers of this network operating from overseas," BNN Deputy for Eradication Aswin Sipayung said. "We will continue pursuing them until they are arrested and brought to Indonesia."
Authorities have detained 12 suspects, including one foreign national identified only as A, while investigations continue into the roles of other members of the syndicate.
The seizure followed a joint operation by the BNN, Customs and Excise, the National Police and the military after officials intercepted suspicious shipping containers arriving from Thailand at Jakarta's Tanjung Priok port. The containers carried valid customs documentation but concealed cannabis inside 500 suitcases and 80 latex cargo bales, authorities said.
Investigators then carried out a controlled delivery, tracking two trucks transporting the shipment to a warehouse in Gresik, East Java, where officers seized the drugs and four trucks.
BNN said the cannabis was not intended for conventional distribution. Instead, the high-THC cannabis buds were allegedly destined for processing into tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) extract to produce refill cartridges for electronic cigarettes and vape devices, reflecting a shift toward higher-value cannabis products.
Authorities said the drugs were intended for distribution across Indonesia, including Jakarta, Bali, East Java, Semarang, South Sumatra and Balikpapan.
The operation also uncovered a network of local accomplices, including truck drivers, cargo handlers, warehouse operators and logistics coordinators.
The Gresik seizure followed an earlier confiscation of 22 kilograms of cannabis in Purwakarta, West Java, linked to the same trafficking network, bringing the total seizure to 3.37 tons.
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