Inp.polri.go.id - Surabaya. The East Java Regional Police destroyed 22.22 kilograms of cocaine on Monday (4/5/2026) to prevent the potential misappropriation of the high-value evidence. 

The narcotics were discovered scattered along the coastal area of Sumenep, Madura, initially weighing 27 kilograms before being cleaned of sand and sea debris.

"These items have a very tempting value. It is better to destroy them immediately to ensure no misuse occurs," said East Java Police Chief Inspector General Nanang Avianto, as reported by antaranews.com. 

He noted that while East Java typically sees high volumes of crystal meth and marijuana, a cocaine discovery of this magnitude is unprecedented for the region.

The discovery has prompted a wider investigation into international smuggling routes, with authorities analyzing potential links to Colombian drug networks. Given East Java's extensive and often unmonitored coastline, the police are increasing surveillance on coastal entry points. So far in 2026, the East Java Police has seized a total of 72.77 kg of crystal meth and 37.9 kg of marijuana, in addition to this significant cocaine haul.

(mg/inp/pr/rs)