Denpasar, Eyewitness | The Head of Bali Province’s BNN, Brigadier General Budi Sajidin, M.Si., outlined several key points in efforts to prevent drug abuse and illicit trafficking in Bali. This was conveyed by Budi Sajidin during a coordination meeting on the prevention and eradication of drug abuse and illicit trafficking (P4GN) in Bali on Friday (February 6, 2026).
According to him, there are three main enemies of the state that fall under the category of extraordinary crimes: corruption, terrorism, and drugs. Corruption threatens the blossoms of the tree, destroying its essence and beauty. Furthermore, terrorism threatens the trunk of the tree, damaging its growth. The most dangerous crime, drug crime, threatens the roots of the tree. If the roots are damaged or dead, the trunk and flowers will not be able to grow again.
“As we all know, one of the President of the Republic of Indonesia’s main programs is strengthening drug prevention and eradication. The P4GN program can be part of the implementation of cross-sectoral programs. Therefore, support from regional governments and ministries/institutions is crucial for the effective and impactful implementation of P4GN,” he emphasized.
The National Narcotics Agency (BNN)’s strategy for handling narcotics problems is a collaborative and humanity-oriented approach. According to Budi Sajidin, this includes:
– A collaborative governance strategy, where drug handling can no longer be carried out in isolation but requires the orchestration of cross-sectoral policies through synergy between the government, the community, and other stakeholders.
– A second strategy is an integrated approach, where prevention and eradication efforts are implemented in an integrated manner between central government policies and implementation at the regional level, for a more effective and sustainable response.
– A third strategy is a war on drugs for humanity, which means that drug handling prioritizes a balance between state assertiveness and humanitarian values ??as the basic principles of national policy.
– A fourth strategy is hard power against syndicates, where the state takes a tough and firm stance against drug syndicate networks through strong and consistent law enforcement.
– A final strategy is soft power for victims and Users, through a recovery and rehabilitation approach, are prioritized for victims and drug users as part of protecting human rights and dignity.
“Indonesia is currently in a state of drug emergency. Based on the results of a survey on the prevalence of drug abuse in Indonesia in 2025, it shows that 4.1 million people of productive age are exposed to drugs. This condition indicates that the drug threat continues to grow and reaches all areas, both urban and rural. “If not addressed with appropriate measures, the drug threat has the potential to continue to undermine social resilience and the future of the nation’s generations,” he said.
He explained that based on drug price mapping in Bali, the price of methamphetamine per gram is IDR 1,650,000, or above the national average of IDR 1,400,000. Meanwhile, the price of ecstasy in Bali reaches IDR 800,000 per pill, far above the national average of IDR 400,000.
“We also convey that Bali remains a vulnerable area and a potential market for drug abuse and illicit trafficking, involving not only local networks but also inter-provincial and international networks with various modes of illicit drug trafficking,” he said.
Based on data from the disclosure of narcotics cases in 2025, Bali demonstrates a level of vulnerability that requires serious attention and priority intervention. Among the cities of Denpasar with 571 cases, Badung 114 cases, Buleleng 98 cases, Tabanan 49 cases, Gianyar 42 cases, Jembrana 39 cases, Karangasem 29 cases, Klungkung 27 cases, and Bangli 24 cases.
From a social and tourist perspective, the phenomenon of drug abuse in Bali, as a major international tourist destination, can pose a serious threat to the security and social values ??of the Balinese people. Furthermore, drug trafficking is no longer limited to urban areas but has reached remote rural areas, regardless of administrative boundaries.
“Bali can be considered an open island with various entry routes for goods and people, whether by land, sea, or air. This certainly creates a loophole for illicit drug trafficking, which involves not only local and inter-provincial networks but also international networks from abroad,” he said.
In general, the challenges facing the narcotics problem in Bali include the threat of new types of drugs, while Bali, as a major international tourist destination, is showing signs of development.
New types of drugs present increasingly complex and difficult-to-detect threat patterns. This dynamic demands high vigilance and a swift and adaptive policy response to protect the public, especially the younger generation.
Furthermore, the challenges of evolving drug crime methods, including the infiltration of etomidate into vape liquids and clandestine labs, demonstrate that the drug threat continues to transform, and its handling is not matched by the availability of adequate personnel and facilities. Therefore, cooperation and collaboration are needed for more progressive and comprehensive treatment.
“Another challenge is limited access to rehabilitation services. Representative inpatient rehabilitation facilities are still concentrated at Manah Shanti Mahottama Hospital (Bangli) and Mangusada Badung Regional Hospital (RSD). Their limited capacity means that residents in West and North Bali face distance barriers to access intensive services. The final challenge is the lack of participation of relevant stakeholders in the p4gn program, as drugs are a common enemy that can threaten national resilience,” he said.
He emphasized the need for support and active participation from the community and relevant stakeholders in handling the problem, as stipulated in Articles 107, 108, and 109 of Law No. 35 of 2009 concerning narcotics. Given these conditions and problems, we cannot remain silent. Various strategic steps have been taken and require the support of all parties. This includes the development of anti-drug regulations, a local wisdom in Bali, which are expected to become regulations that directly impact people’s daily lives. Currently, only 139 villages have anti-drug regulations, representing 9.07% of the 1,500 traditional villages in Bali.
Another effort is encouraging the establishment of regionally-owned drug rehabilitation centers that can reach all levels of society, free of charge or at affordable costs. Another step is the implementation of real decriminalization and depenalization, with the hope of achieving alignment of views among law enforcement agencies so that genuine drug abusers are truly directed toward rehabilitation through assessment by an integrated assessment team.
“An equally important step is the formation of an integrated drug eradication team with the aim of strengthening coordination between relevant agencies, including the Regional Government, Regional Police, Military Command, Customs and Excise, Regional Office of Imipas, and other stakeholders in an effort to protect Bali from illicit drug trafficking,” he concluded.
