The drugs were confiscated from 15 PNG nationals arrested in various locations across the province, according to Senior Commissioner Alfian, head of the Papua Police Narcotics Division.
“These suspects smuggled cannabis into Indonesia using narrow border trails and sea routes,” Alfian said at a press briefing in Jayapura on Saturday.
The Indonesia–PNG border stretches more than 700 kilometers, much of it dense forest, making it prone to cross-border crimes, particularly drug trafficking. Police say traffickers often use remote areas to evade detection.
On July 8, 2025, for example, a border security task force intercepted a package containing 128 marijuana packs during a routine military patrol near Skofro Village in Keerom District.
The drugs were being carried by two PNG nationals, said task force commander Lt. Col. Dedi Harnoto.
Earlier cases include a May 9, 2024, operation in which the Indonesian Navy’s quick-response team stopped six traffickers attempting to smuggle 13.43 kilograms of dried cannabis into Papua by sea, and a March 21, 2024, arrest of two PNG citizens in Jayapura with 51 marijuana packs hidden in four sacks of rice.
Alfian urged the public to help police by reporting signs of drug trafficking. “Community reports are vital to stopping cannabis distribution. The drug poses serious risks, especially to young people,” he said, adding that officers face challenges due to the many hidden smuggling routes.
Papua police are working with military and border task forces to tighten enforcement.
Cannabis is illegal in Indonesia, and traffickers face harsh penalties, including long prison terms or even the death penalty. Authorities continue to urge residents, especially in border areas, to stay vigilant and report suspicious activity.
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Translator: Evarukdijati, Rahmad Nasution
Editor: M Razi Rahman
Copyright © ANTARA 2025
