Indonesian authorities have seized 3.37 tonnes of cannabis buds in East Java, in a major cross-border drug operation linked to shipments originating from Thailand. The haul was discovered during an operation conducted by Indonesia’s National Narcotics Agency, which said the drugs were intended for distribution across major cities including Jakarta and Bali.
Get today's headlines by email 
According to spokesman Suyudi Ario Seto, the cannabis buds were intercepted this week, with officials confirming they had been smuggled into the country concealed in suitcases and rubber goods packaging. Authorities said the narcotics were likely destined for use in the production of cannabis-infused e-cigarette liquids, a growing concern for law enforcement in the region.
The agency stated that the seizure forms part of a wider investigation carried out between 29 June and 1 July. During this period, officers expanded operations across multiple locations in Indonesia as they tracked a suspected transnational trafficking network believed to have only recently been established.
Officials confirmed that 12 individuals have been detained in connection with the case. The group is reported to include foreign nationals, and investigators are continuing to assess the structure and international links of the network, including its supply chain connections to Thailand.
Authorities highlighted that Indonesia maintains some of the strictest drug laws in the region. The case has drawn attention to the country’s long-standing enforcement stance, including the 2015 executions of two Australian members of the so-called “Bali Nine” group for heroin smuggling offences.
Amarin reported that officials have not yet disclosed the identities of those arrested or detailed any formal charges, but confirmed that investigations are ongoing across several cities. Further raids and arrests have not been ruled out as authorities attempt to dismantle the wider trafficking operation.
Join the discussion? 
Already a member? 
Adapted by ASEAN Now Amarin 4 July 2026