BNN Seized 3.37 Tons of Narcotics, 12 Suspects Detained  

Gresik: The National Narcotics Agency (BNN) has uncovered 3.37 tons of cannabinoid-rich cannabis flower buds from Thailand that were smuggled into Indonesia through official import channels in Gresik Regency, East Java, on Thursday, July 2, 2026.
 
“A joint team apprehended 12 suspects, who are currently undergoing further investigation and questioning,” said Head of the BNN, Police Commissioner General Suyudi Ario Seto, during a Metro TV Breaking News broadcast.
 
Suyudi revealed that the illicit goods were concealed in four shipping containers –,compromising suitcases and latex products,– in an effort to deceive authorities.
 
He added that the case marks Indonesia’s first instance of cannabinoid flower bud smuggling, highlighting a new narcotics threat for law enforcement agencies. Based on intelligence analysis, the flower buds were intended to be processed into Phenethylhydroxycannabinol (PHC) extract for e-cigarette cartridges.
 
“Its distribution follows the lifestyle and consumption trends of the younger generations, disguised in seemingly ordinary products, such as e-cigarettes,” Suyudi explained.
 
(Jonathan Sianto)