Indonesia and Russia Reach 3 Drug Bust Agreements to Cooperate in Combating Transnational Drug Crimes

(CNA Jakarta, June 29) Indonesia and Russia have recently reached three bilateral agreements to combat transnational drug crimes. The two sides will establish a real-time intelligence exchange mechanism and conduct joint investigations into cases involving foreign tourists in places like Bali. They will cooperate to address smuggling by foreign criminal groups using psychoactive substances and digital means, in order to deal with the technologically advanced drug crime chains and transnational structures operated by foreign networks within Indonesia.

From June 22nd to 23rd, the Head of Indonesia's National Narcotics Agency, Suyudi Ario Seto, led a delegation to Moscow, the capital of Russia, for talks with Russian Deputy Minister of Internal Affairs Igor Zubov and Director General of Drug Control Ivan Valentinovich Gorbunov. The Indonesian delegation subsequently visited Russia's Safe City system to examine its built-in digital forensic technologies such as image analysis, trajectory tracking, and facial recognition, in order to review suspect movement paths and contact networks, and to assess the effectiveness of technological investigations.

According to a report from Indonesia's National Narcotics Agency, a clandestine laboratory set up by Russian citizens was discovered in Bali in March of this year. Chemical synthesis substances, cryptocurrency accounts, and e-cigarette devices were seized at the scene, indicating that the drug manufacturing and trafficking models of foreign criminal groups have evolved towards technological applications, which was a key factor leading to this bilateral meeting and subsequent cooperation.

Indonesia's National Narcotics Agency stated today through a press release that the primary agreement reached by both sides is to adjust immigration controls at entry and exit points such as Bali. The authorities pointed out that due to the direct domestic production of Mephedrone (commonly known as meow meow) in clandestine laboratories in Indonesia, law enforcement and immigration agencies of both countries have established a real-time intelligence exchange mechanism. Once it is confirmed that foreign tourists are involved in drug cases within Indonesia, both sides will share intelligence and take measures such as deportation against the individuals involved.

The other two agreements address the criminal structures that utilize the dark web and virtual currency transactions. The authorities explained that both sides have agreed to train technical personnel in areas such as digital forensics, technological investigation, and cryptocurrency tracking to investigate transnational money laundering channels. They will also share intelligence on "New Psychoactive Substances" (NPS) to investigate the circulation of such substances disguised as e-cigarettes entering the market, and combine this with social education to promote grassroots prevention and control measures. (Editor: Chen Cheng-kung) 1150629

Stand with facts, your contribution is the power to protect the freedom of the press

Download the CNA "First Hand News" APP to get the latest news in real time

Text, images, and videos on this website may not be reproduced, broadcast, transmitted, or used without authorization.