The crackdown was carried out several days before the electronic music event, which took place from Dec. 12 to 14, 2025, according to Brigadier General Eko Hadi Santoso, director of narcotics crimes at the National Police Criminal Investigation Agency (Bareskrim).
Eko said investigators uncovered six drug syndicates and arrested 17 suspects in coordinated operations across several regions. Police are still hunting seven additional suspects who have been placed on a wanted list.
Of those arrested, 16 are Indonesian nationals — comprising 10 men and six women — while one suspect is a foreign national from Peru, Eko told a news conference at police headquarters in South Jakarta.
He said the suspects are believed to be part of inter-provincial networks operating in Jakarta, Surabaya and Bali, as well as a cross-border network involving foreign nationals.
Related news: BNN sounds alarm on drug-contaminated vapes as youth risk exposure
Police seized a wide range of narcotics, including 31 kilograms of methamphetamine, 956.5 ecstasy pills, 23.59 grams of powdered ecstasy and 135 grams of a synthetic drug commonly known as “happy water.”
Other confiscated items included 1,077.72 grams of ketamine, 33.12 grams of cocaine, 21.09 grams of MDMA, 36.92 grams of marijuana and 3.5 tablets of a substance known as “happy five,” Eko said.
Authorities estimated the total street value of the seized drugs at about 60.5 billion rupiah ($3.9 million), adding that the operation potentially saved more than 162,000 people from drug abuse.
The suspects have been charged under Indonesia’s strict narcotics law, including provisions that allow for heavy prison sentences for trafficking and conspiracy offenses.
Eko said the operation was part of a broader mitigation strategy to prevent drug circulation at major international events hosted in Indonesia.
He acknowledged that security measures at last year’s DWP had been insufficient and had drawn criticism.
“We have changed our approach,” he said, adding that the latest operation would serve as a benchmark for securing future large-scale national and international events that could be targeted by drug syndicates.
Related news: Police Chief flags new drug abuse trend
Translator: Nadia Putri R, Resinta Sulistiyandari
Editor: Rahmad Nasution
Copyright © ANTARA 2025
