Golden Triangle Narcotics Dominating Bali’s Illicit Drug Trade, Says BNN Commissioner General

According to the National Narcotics Agency (BNN) of Indonesia, Bali is home to a thriving illicit drug trade dominated by narcotics originating from transnational Golden Triangle rings. The Golden Triangle is an opium-producing area in Southeast Asia, consisting of Myanmar, Thailand, and Laos, while the Crescent Triangle is the world’s largest opium-producing area, comprising Afghanistan, Pakistan, and Iran. The addictive drugs traded in Bali are primarily linked to the Golden Triangle ring, as confirmed through laboratory tests and seizures. The BNN has seized assets worth Rp15 billion from a former drug inmate, identified as MW, who led drug trafficking operations while in jail. The Golden Triangle syndicates’ operations are challenging to uncover due to their military force and the special protection they receive, making Indonesia’s waters vulnerable to their drug trafficking. Regardless of socioeconomic backgrounds, local and transborder drug traffickers remain a serious threat to Indonesia. The BNN is collaborating with its partners in other ASEAN countries to halt the Golden Triangle ring’s drug trade, primarily through the Mekong River and sea.