Russian and Ukrainian Nationals Partnering in Bali Drug Syndicate Using Blockchain and Cryptocurrency
MANGUPURA, NusaBali – The Head of Indonesia’s National Narcotics Agency (BNN), Commissioner General of Police Marthinus Hukom, has revealed an unusual and troubling phenomenon involving foreign nationals from Russia and Ukraine collaborating in narcotics trafficking in Bali.
Despite their home countries being at war, citizens from both nations have formed a partnership in crime on the Island of the Gods.
"This is a very unique phenomenon. Two countries that are at war—Russia and Ukraine—but here in Bali, their citizens are partners in crime, engaging in illicit drug trafficking," Marthinus said during a public lecture attended by thousands of university students at the Widya Sabha Auditorium, Udayana University, Jimbaran, on Tuesday (15/7/2025).
According to Marthinus, these foreign drug networks are highly sophisticated, using advanced technologies such as blockchain—a distributed ledger system—to evade law enforcement detection. They also exploit social media platforms like Instagram, communicating in coded messages understood only within their network.
"The transactions happen entirely on social media. Once the seller and buyer reach an agreement, payment is made via cryptocurrency. There’s no in-person meeting like a traditional market exchange. They simply drop coordinates. Within two minutes, the goods are picked up. The level of difficulty in tracking this is extremely high," he explained.
Marthinus admitted that BNN does not yet fully understand the motivations behind citizens from two warring countries joining forces to form a drug cartel in Bali. However, he pointed out that Bali's high demand for narcotics likely plays a role in attracting these criminal enterprises.
“This is a matter of serious concern for BNN,” he stressed.
To combat this international syndicate, BNN is now pursuing cooperation with the Russian government to investigate and dismantle these networks. "We are working with Russia to uncover this syndicate," he said.
Marthinus also highlighted the urgent need for greater technological literacy and anti-drug awareness, particularly among young people, as traffickers become increasingly adept at exploiting digital platforms. He urged universities to serve as strongholds of integrity and moral resilience to protect Indonesia’s next generation from the scourge of narcotics.
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