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Time of India
6 days ago
- Politics
- Time of India
Partners in crime: How Russia, Ukraine syndicates are running drug trafficking rackets from Bali - with crypto and encrypted chats
Representative image/AI generated Indonesia's National Narcotics Agency (BNN) has identified Bali as a key location for drug trafficking operations, involving Russian and Ukrainian nationals. According to Indonesia's state-run Antara news agency, these syndicates are using advanced technologies like blockchain to avoid detection by law enforcement. BNN chief, police commissioner general Marthinus Hukom, said his agency has found that traffickers are relying on distributed ledger systems to manage their operations discreetly. "This is a very unique phenomenon, where nationals of Russia and Ukraine — two countries currently at war — have become partners in the crime (of) drug trafficking in Bali," Hukom said during a public lecture at Udayana University in Bali, as quoted by Antara. Hukom noted that traffickers are using social media platforms, particularly Instagram, to connect with buyers. Communication is carried out using coded language and encryption to prevent tracing. The syndicates are also conducting transactions through cryptocurrencies rather than traditional payment methods, making enforcement efforts more complex. "It is very difficult to crack down on such practices because the perpetrators do not make transactions in a conventional manner," Hukom was quoted as saying by news agency Ankara. Indonesian authorities are coordinating with Russian officials to address the issue. The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime has previously said that Indonesia is a major target for international drug syndicates, partly due to its large youth population, even though the country has strict drug laws.
Gulf Today
26-06-2025
- Gulf Today
Indonesia arrests 285 smugglers, seizes drugs
Indonesian authorities said they arrested 285 people suspected of drug trafficking, including 29 women and seven foreigners, and seized over half a tonne of narcotics during a two-month crackdown. Indonesia is a major hub for drug trafficking in Southeast Asia despite having strict drug laws, with convicted smugglers sometimes executed by firing squad. The head of the National Narcotic Agency, Marthinus Hukom, said the crackdown, launched between April and June across 20 provinces, also uncovered money laundering schemes by two drug syndicates and confiscated assets worth more than 26 billion rupiah (about $1.5 million). Thirty-six of the suspects, including 21 women, were paraded in front of reporters, along with confiscated drugs, in their orange prison uniforms and hands handcuffed. Hukom said the women arrested were mostly married without jobs outside the home. 'I call on Indonesian women to be more vigilant in establishing friendships both in the real world and in cyberspace,' he said during a joint press conference with officials from the security affairs ministry and the customs office who took part in the operation. One of the agency's deputies, Budi Wibowo, said authorities seized 683,885 grams (0.68 tonne) of crystal meth, marijuana, ecstasy, THC, hashish and amphetamines, adding this helped stop them falling into the hands of 'more than 1.3 million people.' Wibowo also said that drug syndicates have used various methods to distribute narcotics to users via land and sea transportation or mail services. The seven foreign nationals were an American, two Kazakhs, two Malaysians, an Indian and an Australian, Wibowo said. The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime says Indonesia is a major drug-smuggling hub in part because international drug syndicates target its young population. In a separate operation, authorities in the province of Riau Island, exposed in May two cases of drug smuggling in its waters and seized 2.7 tonnes of crystal methamphetamine and 1.2 tonnes of ketamine, Hukom said. In 2023, authorities uncovered more than 52,000 of drug cases and confiscated 6.2 tonnes of crystal meth, 1.1 tonnes of marijuana and other types of synthetic narcotics, said Mochammad Hasan of the ministry of security affairs during the press conference. Associated Press
Time of India
24-06-2025
- Time of India
Indonesia arrests 285 in drug crackdown and seizes over half a ton of narcotics
Indonesia arrests 285 in drug crackdown and seizes over half a ton of narcotics (Image: AP) JAKARTA: Indonesian authorities said Monday they arrested 285 people suspected of drug trafficking, including 29 women and seven foreigners, and seized over half a ton of narcotics during a two-month crackdown. Indonesia is a major hub for drug trafficking in Southeast Asia despite having strict drug laws, with convicted smugglers sometimes executed by firing squad. The head of the National Narcotic Agency, Marthinus Hukom, said the crackdown, launched between April and June across 20 provinces, also uncovered money laundering schemes by two drug syndicates and confiscated assets worth more than 26 billion rupiah (about $1.5 million). Thirty-six of the suspects, including 21 women, were paraded in front of reporters, along with confiscated drugs, in their orange prison uniforms and hands handcuffed. Hukom said the women arrested were mostly married without jobs outside the home. "I call on Indonesian women to be more vigilant in establishing friendships both in the real world and in cyberspace," he said during a joint press conference with officials from the security affairs ministry and the customs office who took part in the operation. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Your Ghaziabad Home Value Just Changed (Take a Look) Homes Values Click Here Undo One of the agency's deputies, Budi Wibowo, said authorities seized 683,885 grams (0.68 ton) of crystal meth, marijuana, ecstasy, THC, hashish and amphetamines, adding this helped stop them falling into the hands of "more than 1.3 million people." Wibowo also said that drug syndicates have used various methods to distribute narcotics to users via land and sea transportation or mail services. The seven foreign nationals were an American, two Kazakhs, two Malaysians, an Indian and an Australian, Wibowo said. The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime says Indonesia is a major drug-smuggling hub in part because international drug syndicates target its young population. In a separate operation, authorities in the province of Riau Island, exposed in May two cases of drug smuggling in its waters and seized 2.7 tons of crystal methamphetamine and 1.2 tons of ketamine, Hukom said Monday. In 2023, authorities uncovered more than 52,000 of drug cases and confiscated 6.2 tons of crystal meth, 1.1 tons of marijuana and other types of synthetic narcotics, said Mochammad Hasan of the ministry of security affairs during the press conference. Hasan said the number increased in 2024 with more than 56,000 cases and confiscated 7.5 tons of crystal meth and 3.3 tons of marijuana, with a combine value worth 7.5 trillion rupiah ($454.6 million). Authorities have arrested a total of 27,357 drug suspects by November 2024, he said. Early this month, three British nationals accused of smuggling nearly a kilogram (over 2 pounds) of cocaine into Indonesia were charged in a court on the tourist island of Bali. They face the death penalty under the country's strict drug laws. About 530 people, including 96 foreigners, are on death row in Indonesia, mostly for drug-related crimes, the Ministry of Immigration and Corrections' data showed. Indonesia's last executions, of an Indonesian and three foreigners, were carried out in July 2016.
Japan Today
24-06-2025
- Japan Today
Indonesia arrests 285 in drug crackdown and seizes over half a ton of narcotics
Indonesian police officers stand guard near various drugs seized in a nationwide crackdown in the past few months, before the start of a press conference at the Indonesian Customs headquarters in Jakarta, Indonesia, Monday, June 23, 2025. (AP Photo/Achmad Ibrahim) By NINIEK KARMINI and ANDI JATMIKO Indonesian authorities said Monday they arrested 285 people suspected of drug trafficking, including 29 women and seven foreigners, and seized over half a ton of narcotics during a two-month crackdown. Indonesia is a major hub for drug trafficking in Southeast Asia despite having strict drug laws, with convicted smugglers sometimes executed by firing squad. The head of the National Narcotic Agency, Marthinus Hukom, said the crackdown, launched between April and June across 20 provinces, also uncovered money laundering schemes by two drug syndicates and confiscated assets worth more than 26 billion rupiah (about $1.5 million). Thirty-six of the suspects, including 21 women, were paraded in front of reporters, along with confiscated drugs, in their orange prison uniforms and hands handcuffed. Hukom said the women arrested were mostly married without jobs outside the home. 'I call on Indonesian women to be more vigilant in establishing friendships both in the real world and in cyberspace,' he said during a joint press conference with officials from the security affairs ministry and the customs office who took part in the operation. One of the agency's deputies, Budi Wibowo, said authorities seized 683,885 grams (0.68 ton) of crystal meth, marijuana, ecstasy, THC, hashish and amphetamines, adding this helped stop them falling into the hands of 'more than 1.3 million people.' Wibowo also said that drug syndicates have used various methods to distribute narcotics to users via land and sea transportation or mail services. The seven foreign nationals were an American, two Kazakhs, two Malaysians, an Indian and an Australian, Wibowo said. The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime says Indonesia is a major drug-smuggling hub in part because international drug syndicates target its young population. In a separate operation, authorities in the province of Riau Island, exposed in May two cases of drug smuggling in its waters and seized 2.7 tons of crystal methamphetamine and 1.2 tons of ketamine, Hukom said Monday. In 2023, authorities uncovered more than 52,000 of drug cases and confiscated 6.2 tons of crystal meth, 1.1 tons of marijuana and other types of synthetic narcotics, said Mochammad Hasan of the ministry of security affairs during the press conference. Hasan said the number increased in 2024 with more than 56,000 cases and confiscated 7.5 tons of crystal meth and 3.3 tons of marijuana, with a combine value worth 7.5 trillion rupiah ($454.6 million). Authorities have arrested a total of 27,357 drug suspects by November 2024, he said. Early this month, three British nationals accused of smuggling nearly a kilogram (over 2 pounds) of cocaine into Indonesia were charged in a court on the tourist island of Bali. They face the death penalty under the country's strict drug laws. About 530 people, including 96 foreigners, are on death row in Indonesia, mostly for drug-related crimes, the Ministry of Immigration and Corrections' data showed. Indonesia's last executions, of an Indonesian and three foreigners, were carried out in July 2016. © Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
7NEWS
24-06-2025
- 7NEWS
Indonesia drugs crackdown nets 285 including Australian
Indonesian authorities say they have arrested 285 people suspected of drug-trafficking — including 29 women and seven foreigners, one an Australian — and seized more than half a tonne of various narcotics during a two-month crackdown. Indonesia is a major hub for drug trafficking in South-East Asia despite its strict drug laws, with convicted smugglers sometimes executed by firing squad. National Narcotic Agency head Marthinus Hukom said the crackdown, between April and June across 20 provinces, also uncovered money laundering schemes by two drug syndicates and confiscated assets worth more than 26 billion rupiah (about $A2.3 million). Thirty-six of the suspects, including 21 women, were paraded — handcuffed in their orange prison uniforms — in front of media, along with confiscated drugs. Hukom said the women arrested were mostly housewives. 'I call on Indonesian women to be more vigilant in establishing friendships both in the real world and in cyberspace,' he said at a joint press conference with officials from the Security Affairs Ministry and Customs office which took part in the operation. Agency deputy Budi Wibowo said authorities seized 683,885g of crystal meth, marijuana, ecstasy, THC, hashish and amphetamines — adding this helped stop them falling into the hands of 'more than 1.3 million people'. Wibowo also said drug syndicates have used various methods to distribute narcotics to users via land and sea transportation or mail services. The seven foreigners were a US citizen, two Kazakhs, two Malaysians, an Indian and an Australian, Wibowo said. The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime says Indonesia is a major drug-smuggling hub in part because international drug syndicates target its young population. In a separate operation, authorities in the province of Riau Island in May exposed two cases of drug smuggling in its waters and seized 2.7 tonnes of crystal methamphetamine and 1.2 tonnes of ketamine, Hukom said on Monday. In 2023, authorities uncovered more than 52,000 drug cases and confiscated 6.2 tonnes of crystal meth, 1.1 tonnes of marijuana and other types of synthetic narcotics, Mohammad Hasan of the Ministry of Security Affairs said. Hasan said the number increased in 2024 with more than 56,000 cases in which 7.5 tonnes of crystal meth and 3.3 tonnes of marijuana was confiscated. Authorities had arrested a total of 27,357 drug suspects by November 2024, he said. Early this month, three British citizens accused of smuggling nearly 1kg of cocaine into Indonesia were charged on the tourist island of Bali. They face the death penalty if convicted under the country's strict drug laws. About 530 people, including 96 foreigners, are on death row in Indonesia, mostly for drug-related crimes, Ministry of Immigration and Corrections data showed. Indonesia's last executions, of an Indonesian and three foreigners, were carried out in July 2016.
