25-9-2024 (JAKARTA) Indonesian authorities have made a startling discovery in East Java’s Bromo Tengger Semeru National Park, unearthing a vast illegal marijuana plantation. The operation, which took place on Tuesday, resulted in the seizure of approximately 38,000 cannabis plants, marking one of the largest drug busts in the country’s recent history.
Robert Da Costa, Director of Drug Detection for East Java Police, revealed that the illicit cultivation spanned an area of roughly 1.5 hectares. “The perpetrators strategically chose isolated and rugged mountain terrain to evade detection,” Da Costa explained in a press conference held in Jakarta.
The discovery comes as a shock to many, given Indonesia’s notoriously strict anti-drug laws, which include capital punishment for trafficking offences. Cannabis remains illegal for both recreational and medicinal use in the archipelagic nation, despite growing international trends towards legalisation.
According to Da Costa, the illegal operation commenced in January 2024. “Our investigations indicate that cultivation began at the start of the year. Some areas had already been harvested, while others remained untouched,” he stated.
The case first came to light on 19th September when local authorities stumbled upon 453 marijuana plants growing on the slopes of Mount Semeru in Argosari village. This initial find prompted a wider search, revealing the true extent of the operation.
“The plants we discovered stood between 1.5 and 2 metres tall, indicating they were between three and four months old and ready for harvest,” Da Costa elaborated. He emphasised the challenging nature of the terrain, which had initially hampered detection efforts.
In a significant development, four suspects have been apprehended in connection with the case. However, authorities believe this is merely the tip of the iceberg. “We are convinced that this operation involves a larger network of dealers and traders. Our investigation will continue until all responsible parties are brought to justice,” Da Costa affirmed.
Preliminary reports suggest that the marijuana was not intended for export but rather for local distribution within East Java. This information has raised concerns about the extent of drug circulation in the region.
The discovery has prompted intensified efforts from law enforcement agencies. “We are expanding our search and investigation efforts, as we suspect there may be additional undiscovered fields,” Da Costa added. He also commended local residents for their crucial role in providing information and assisting with the ongoing search efforts.
In a related development, authorities uncovered a processing site hidden deep within the national park over the weekend. The location, surrounded by dense vegetation on steep terrain, yielded an additional 10 kilograms of dried marijuana.
This latest bust follows a series of similar operations across Indonesia in recent years. In 2022, the National Narcotics Agency (BNN) dismantled a 5-hectare marijuana plantation in North Sumatra, seizing 50,000 cannabis plants. More recently, in August of this year, BNN officers destroyed 3.5 tons of marijuana harvested from illegal fields in Aceh province.
