JAKARTA, INDONESIA (BERITAPOLITIK.ONLINE) — The Provincial Government of DKI Jakarta, through its Civil Service Police Unit (Satpol PP), is intensifying efforts to combat the illegal Tramadol distribution in the capital, particularly in the Tanah Abang area of Central Jakarta. This initiative is being carried out in close coordination with the Food and Drug Supervisory Agency (BPOM), the National Police, and the TNI (Indonesian National Armed Forces).
The operation follows growing public concern over the open sale of Tramadol—a prescription-only painkiller classified as a hard drug—on the streets, often without any medical supervision. The sale of this drug without a prescription is illegal in Indonesia and poses a serious threat to public health, especially among teenagers and children.
Satriadi Gunawan, Head of the DKI Jakarta Satpol PP, confirmed that several individuals involved in the unauthorized retail of Tramadol have already been apprehended.
“To date, some of the sellers have been handed over to the Social Service for further processing, particularly in West Jakarta,” Satriadi stated on Sunday.
He explained that joint operations have been conducted in collaboration with the integrated teams from BPOM, the local Health Office (DHO), and security forces from both the TNI and National Police.
“We directly inspected known distribution points where these illegal sales were taking place,” he said, citing KS Tubun Street as one of the identified hotspots. “In that particular area, we managed to arrest two individuals who were selling Tramadol in small quantities.”
Although several suspects have been detained, Satriadi admitted that no significant physical evidence of the drugs has yet been secured. According to him, this is largely due to the rapid and discreet manner in which these illegal transactions are carried out.
“The situation is highly fluid and changes by the hour. We must avoid leaking operational information so as not to compromise the investigation or give suspects time to destroy evidence,” he added.
Alarmingly, Tramadol tablets were being sold openly on the sidewalks in front of the Textile Museum, just off KS Tubun Street, in the direction of Tanah Abang Market, Block G. The buyers include not just adults, but also youths and, in some cases, children—prompting even greater urgency for a comprehensive government response.
Governor of DKI Jakarta, Pramono Anung, has vowed swift and firm action to curb this alarming trend. He emphasized the importance of a unified and sustained government effort to eliminate the illicit trade of prescription drugs.
“I will immediately instruct relevant agencies, particularly Satpol PP, to take action. We will also coordinate closely with the police to ensure this stops. This should not be allowed to continue unchecked,” Governor Pramono said.
BPOM, meanwhile, is continuing to collect and verify data on the illegal drug samples and suspects involved. The agency aims to track the full distribution chain—from street-level sellers to possible suppliers or illegal networks operating behind the scenes.
In addition to law enforcement operations, local authorities are also considering social outreach and educational campaigns to raise awareness about the dangers of consuming unprescribed medication, particularly among minors.
Health experts have warned that abuse of Tramadol can lead to addiction, seizures, respiratory problems, and even death if consumed in high doses or mixed with other substances.
This multi-agency crackdown signals a renewed commitment by the Jakarta government to protect its citizens from the dangers of illegal Tramadol distribution. As patrols and investigations continue, authorities urge the public to report any suspicious drug-related activities and refrain from purchasing medication without a doctor’s prescription.
