Indonesian Quarantine Agency (Barantin) Head Abdul Kadir Karding said narcotics trafficking methods have become more complex, with some shipments moving through border checkpoints overseen by quarantine authorities.
"Drug-smuggling methods continue to evolve, and many pass through border areas under the authority of the Quarantine Agency," Karding said in Jakarta on Thursday.
He said stronger border controls require closer cooperation among government agencies because Indonesia handles large volumes of trade and cargo movement through ports, airports and land crossings.
According to Karding, Barantin operates tracking and screening systems that can support joint monitoring efforts with the National Narcotics Agency (BNN).
The agency also manages a real-time monitoring platform known as Best Trust, which can help detect suspicious activity at entry points across the country.
"We will connect it with BNN's system. If we identify suspicious activity or findings at the border, we can immediately report them," Karding said.
He said integrated monitoring is essential because trafficking techniques continue to evolve, including the growing use of liquid narcotics.
Karding cited a case several years ago in which more than 800 kilograms of marijuana from Germany were concealed in animal feed shipments.
Barantin data show exports of quarantine-regulated commodities reached Rp304.7 trillion (US$18.7 billion) between January and October 2025, underscoring the need to safeguard trade flows while maintaining biosecurity.
Beyond data integration, Barantin and BNN plan to strengthen coordination at locations considered vulnerable to drug trafficking.
BNN Chief Suyudi Ario Seto said evolving narcotics products and smuggling methods require broader cooperation among enforcement agencies.
"Drugs are no longer limited to solids, powders, pills or plants. They are now also appearing in liquid form," Suyudi said.
During Operation Saber Bersinar in May 2026, BNN uncovered 715 cases and seized narcotics with an estimated value of Rp211.4 billion.
Suyudi said Indonesia faces major monitoring challenges because, in addition to numerous official entry points, traffickers can exploit unofficial routes used by international drug networks.
He added that the growing popularity of electronic cigarettes has raised concerns after authorities found liquid narcotics, particularly etomidate, concealed in vape devices.
The trend has become a focus for BNN, police and customs authorities, which have increasingly uncovered new narcotics substances in liquid form inside vaping products.
Barantin previously introduced pre-border systems and digital quarantine services to speed cargo processing while reducing waiting times and logistics costs at ports and airports.
The two agencies agreed to accelerate negotiations on a memorandum of understanding and a cooperation agreement to strengthen narcotics prevention and border enforcement.
"We will move quickly on the memorandum.Teams from Barantin and BNN will determine the measures needed to formalize this cooperation," Suyudi said.
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Translator: Aria A, Rahmad Nasution
Editor: Primayanti
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