By: Rianty Arawiyas )*
The Indonesian government continues to demonstrate a strong commitment to maintaining the sovereignty of its maritime territory through the implementation of joint sea operations involving various strategic institutions. This step was taken in response to the increasing threat of smuggling in national waters, which includes not only narcotics but also high-value commodities such as fuel oil (BBM), marine products, and consumer goods that enter or leave illegally.
The Indonesian Navy is at the forefront of implementing this operation, with full support from the National Narcotics Agency (BNN), the Directorate General of Customs and Excise, and the Indonesian National Police. One significant result of this synergy was seen in the joint operation in the waters north of Tanjung Balai Karimun, Riau Islands, which successfully thwarted the smuggling of two tons of crystal methamphetamine from a foreign tanker.
The operation was carried out by elements of Fleet Command I, namely KRI Surik-645 and KRI Silea-858, which worked in a coordinated manner with patrol ships belonging to Customs and Excise and the BNN narcotics unit. Through radar detection and maritime pursuit, the Sea Dragon Tarawa ship was successfully stopped. From the results of the inspection, dozens of boxes containing crystal methamphetamine were found hidden in the lower room of the ship. Eight suspects were successfully secured, consisting of six Indonesian citizens and two foreign citizens from Thailand.
Commander of Fleet Command I, Rear Admiral TNI Fauzi, said that this operation reflected the firmness and readiness of the Indonesian Navy in protecting national waters from the threat of narcotics. He also emphasized that this success was proof of the effectiveness of cross-agency cooperation in guarding Indonesian waters as the front line of national defense.
In the eastern region of Indonesia, the TNI AL Main Base (Lantamal) X Jayapura also demonstrated its active role in securing the waters of the Indonesia-Papua New Guinea border. Two smuggling attempts were thwarted in succession on June 10 and 11, 2025 in the Maritime Law Enforcement Operation (Ops Gakkumla)-25. Officers found illegal fuel and high-value marine products that were about to be smuggled out of Indonesia through open waters.
On the first day, the patrol team detected a speedboat carrying jerrycans containing hundreds of liters of fuel and electronic devices such as televisions and cellphones, which were suspected of being sold abroad. A day later, officers again stopped a longboat carrying marine products such as shark fins, fish bubbles, and sea cucumbers without official documents.
Commander of Lantamal X, Brigadier General TNI (Mar) Freddy Jhon H. Pardosi, led the operation directly and assessed that supervision in border areas was a strategic priority. These efforts are not only aimed at maintaining legal aspects, but also to reduce state losses from an economic perspective and maintain the sustainability of high-value marine resources.
Meanwhile, the Chief of Naval Staff, Admiral TNI Dr. Muhammad Ali, gave instructions for every element of the Indonesian Navy to increase their readiness and not give space to smuggling perpetrators. This instruction was then followed up in the form of strengthening patrols, increasing early detection capabilities, and closer collaboration with other institutions that have authority at sea.
The government places synergy between agencies as the main strategy in dealing with the complexity of cross-regional smuggling. The Indonesian Navy, BNN, Customs, and Police have proven that good coordination can produce fast, accurate, and firm action against violations of the law in the waters. In the long term, this approach not only strengthens national defense, but also supports the creation of a safe maritime climate for economic and transportation activities.
Every successful joint sea operation confirms that Indonesian seas are not allowed to become free space for transnational criminals. Misuse of sea lanes as a means of distributing narcotics, smuggling fuel, or illegal exploitation of marine products are real threats to the stability of the country. Therefore, the government ensures that every potential violation will be prosecuted.
Not only relying on physical strengthening of the fleet, the maritime security strategy is also supported by a modern technological system, including coastal radar, fast patrol boats, and air monitoring. With this approach, the room for criminals to move is increasingly narrow and opportunities for smuggling can be suppressed from the planning stage.
These strategic steps are also part of the national vision to create the Golden Generation 2045, where protecting the younger generation from the threat of drugs is a priority. The government considers that maritime security cannot be separated from efforts to create a healthy, productive, and sustainable future.
The government’s assertiveness in carrying out ope
