"Keep pressing forward, never hesitate, and never back down," President Prabowo said in remarks delivered by Coordinating Minister for Political and Security Affairs Djamari Chaniago during the 2026 International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking commemoration in Bogor District, West Java, on Thursday.
According to the president, efforts to prevent and eradicate drug abuse are not merely matters of law enforcement but also a strategic step toward ensuring sustainable national development.
He stressed that Indonesia cannot become a developed, strong, and globally respected nation if its younger generation is devastated by drug abuse.
Prabowo said that combating narcotics should not be viewed as an additional burden on the state, but as an investment in protecting the nation's future.
He noted that more than 4.15 million Indonesians aged between 15 and 64 have been exposed to drugs, making the social and economic consequences impossible to ignore.
For that reason, he described drug eradication as an essential prerequisite for achieving the Golden Indonesia 2045 vision and reaffirmed it as one of his administration's key political commitments and national priorities.
"This is a firm political commitment and a national strategy of my administration," he said.
In his written remarks, Prabowo also expressed appreciation to the National Narcotics Agency (BNN), the Indonesian National Police (Polri), the Indonesian National Armed Forces (TNI), the Directorate General of Customs and Excise, and other law enforcement agencies for their achievements in combating narcotics throughout 2026.
Authorities seized 107.5 kilograms of crystal methamphetamine, 147 kilograms of marijuana, 1,250 milliliters of etomidate, 1,029 grams of ketamine, and 6,681 ecstasy pills.
They also dismantled international drug syndicates and confiscated assets linked to money laundering worth Rp167.9 billion (around US$9.3 million).
According to the president, those achievements marked a significant milestone in disrupting drug trafficking networks, reducing the threat of drug abuse, and protecting hundreds of thousands of Indonesians.
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Translator: Agatha Olivia, Raka Adji
Editor: M Razi Rahman
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