Indonesia, Malaysia Police Step Up Fight Against Cross-Border Drug Trafficking
Indonesia & Malaysia police agree to boost intelligence sharing & joint enforcement to tackle transnational drug trafficking along their shared border
The Indonesian National Police (Polri) and the Royal Malaysia Police (PDRM) have bolstered their collaboration in combating narcotics-related crimes, according to a statement issued on September 7, 2026. The agreement aims to enhance coordination, particularly concerning Malaysian nationals implicated in drug cases within Indonesian borders.
Brig. Gen. Eko Santoso, Polri's Drug Crimes Director, highlighted that the joint effort will involve improved police-to-police mechanisms to expedite information sharing and enable prompt responses to criminal activities. However, Santoso clarified that this cooperation would not compromise the necessity of working alongside relevant diplomatic missions.
The agreement was reached after three days of discussions in Malaysia from September 2 to 4. During these talks, Polri emphasized the significance of bolstering intelligence networks to identify and apprehend elusive international drug lords or syndicate leaders who continue to evade capture. Santoso noted that intelligence cooperation would primarily aid in tracking down these elusive figures, rather than just the couriers involved in drug trafficking.
The police forces also identified the Strait of Malacca and Indonesia's borders with Sabah and Sarawak as critical areas where drug trafficking operations are prevalent. Santoso stressed the importance of proactive measures in addressing such crimes, underscoring the need for prevention strategies.
In response to Malaysian proposals, the Polri suggested that when dealing with Indonesian fugitives apprehended in Malaysia, the two countries should consider revoking the fugitives' passports. This action would render them illegal visitors in Malaysia, potentially facilitating their prompt deportation. Both sides agreed to consider these suggestions and work on strengthening collaboration to eradicate transboundary drug trafficking through enhanced information exchanges, technical analyses, and joint enforcement measures.
Written by urgent.news from Tempo.co English's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
