TNI AL Disrupts the Smuggling of 1.4 Tons of Cyanide from the Philippines

Deputy Commander of Kodaeral VIII Laksma TNI Tony Herdijanto while inspecting illegal cyanide evidence at the Kodaeral VIII Headquarters, North Sulawesi, Thursday (5/3/2026) ANTARA/HO-Dispen TNI AL

JAKARTA - The Indonesian Navy personnel thwarted the smuggling of 1.4 tons of cyanide from the Philippines to Indonesia through the ASDP Bitung Ferry Port, North Sulawesi.

The arrest was carried out by the Quick Response Team 8 of the Kodaeral VIII Patrol Unit together with the Kerapu-8.26 Intelmar Task Force, and the North Sulawesi Regional Customs on Wednesday (4/3).

Deputy Commander of Kodaeral VIII, First Admiral of the TNI, Tony Herdijanto, said the arrest incident began when officers inspected a vehicle that came down from the Labuhan Haji Crossing Motor Vessel (KMP) with the route Talaud-Bitung while docking at the ASDP Bitung Ferry Port.

"During the inspection of a green expedition truck, officers found a load of dangerous chemicals of the cyanide type packaged in 29 sacks," said Tony as quoted by ANTARA, Saturday, March 7.

Tony explained that the findings were very suspicious because the delivery of cyanide required special handling and transportation.

"I said that the cargo of such chemicals should be transported using a special ship.

"The cargo is also not equipped with official documents so it has the potential to endanger the safety of shipping and ship passengers," he explained.

From the examination of 29 sacks, continued Tony, each sack weighs around 50 kilograms so that the total weight of the goods reaches around 1,450 kilograms or 1.4 tons.

"Based on initial information, the illegal goods are suspected to have come from the Philippines which entered through Melonguane, Kepulauan Talaud Regency, before being smuggled to Bitung using an expedition truck that boarded a passenger ferry," he explained.

The cyanide findings were eventually seized at the Kodaeral VIII headquarters for the purpose of further legal proceedings.

Tony emphasized that this arrest proves the strong commitment of the Indonesian Navy in protecting the Indonesian sea area from various illegal smuggling activities.