Indonesia and Malaysia police step up fight against cross-border drug trafficking

Indonesia and Malaysia are strengthening police cooperation against drug trafficking across their shared border, with officials seeking faster intelligence exchanges and more direct operational coordination.

The agreement followed three days of discussions in Malaysia from Sept. 2 to 4. Indonesia’s police drug crimes director, Brig. Gen. Eko Santoso, said police-to-police mechanisms could speed up the exchange of information and support more responsive operations, while coordination with diplomatic missions would remain necessary.

Indonesia also pressed for stronger intelligence networks to identify and track international drug lords and syndicate masterminds who remain at large. "Intelligence cooperation is expected to help us pin down the masterminds, not only the couriers," Santoso said.

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Intelligence cooperation is expected to help us pin down the masterminds, not only the couriers

He said authorities had identified indications of widespread trafficking involving Indonesians and Malaysians along the border. The Strait of Malacca and Indonesia’s borders with Malaysia’s Sabah and Sarawak states were highlighted as key hotspots, with preventive measures also needed.

Malaysia’s police proposed that the two countries not always rely on lengthy extradition procedures when Indonesian fugitives are found in Malaysia. Santoso said they suggested invalidating the fugitives’ passports, which would make them illegal visitors and could enable faster deportation. Both forces agreed to follow up on proposals involving information sharing, technical analysis and joint enforcement measures.

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Both sides agreed to follow up on all suggestions conveyed during the talks to strengthen collaboration on eradicating transboundary drug trafficking through information exchanges, technical analyses, and joint enforcement measures