drrich2
Contributor
I'm posting this to find out more about 'what I don't know I don't know' about Indonesian laws and norms pertinent to tourists. Reading about medication-related concerns inspired the thread, but I ran across other things.
Been reading a bit on customs foreigners might run afoul of. Attire away from beaches is conservative by western standards but varies by region. Public displays of affection betwixt romantic partners are frowned up (even a kiss between a married a couple), and from various sources I got the impression being recognized as homosexual (which I am not) is an issue that varies where location and can be volatile. I was going to find a quick article to link for concerned people to read, but got the impression the situation varies regionally, both legalities and social norms are at issue, and it's subject to change, so maybe better I suggest anyone it might pertain to considering a trip to Indonesia search out current articles for info. It gets confusing - I read that Indonesia is technically a secular nation (though heavily Muslim), but also saw reference to Sharia law having an impact. Might be worth concerned parties making a thread in the LGBTQIA Friends & Perspectives sub-forum, if that'd be useful.
Here are some notes I pulled together today:
Legal – Per WikiTravel.org’s Indonesia page, Indonesia imposes the death penalty on people caught bringing in drugs. Per the Indonesian Embassy in Helsinki, Finland, you may bring medication if it’s clear it’s only for personal use, you must declare it by using a customs declaration form and present a letter from your physician stating the amount you use per day and listing the medication and/or a cop of the original prescription to the customs officer. If you are questioned by the customs officer, you need to have these documents to prove it’s legally prescribed. It’s illegal to bring narcotics into Indonesia; if you bring medicines containing narcotics you must declare them with the customs declaration form, present a physician’s letter stating reason for taking it and a copy of original prescription to customs officers. Medications containing narcotics must be in original packaging, and dosage quantity must not exceed duration of visit.
Here's a list from the Embassy in Helsinki:
According to Narcotics Law of the Republic of Indonesia No. 22 / 1997, the type of narcotics such as the following are prohibited to enter Indonesian territory:
That marijuana mention concerned me because in the U.S., it breaks down into 3 issues:
1.) Marijuana - contains THC, a psychoactive agent.
2.) CBD - supposedly non-psychoactive agent with various purported benefits; some CBD products are essentially THC-free, and some have low levels.
3.) Hemp - still the marijuana plant, but from what I understand with very low levels of THC. In KY, there's a cut-off % for what's legal and what's not, for example.
In the U.S. mind, CBD and hemp. don't equal 'marijuana.' But what about Indonesian law? Well, some site called BaliSpirit had a lot to say about that. Some excerpts:
"It is a well-known fact that Indonesia, like its partner ASEAN countries (with the exception of Thailand), does not allow the sale or personal possession and/or trafficking of anything classified as a ‘drug’ or ‘narcotic’, including many recreational ‘drugs’ or substances that are legal in other countries, such as cannabis derivatives or even prescription narcotics for legitimate consumption.
"Moreover shipping/receiving or hand carrying into the country (via port or airport) any narcotics or cannabis derivatives can warrant huge fines and prison time. Knowingly receiving any marijuana or other drug in a package through the post office or knowingly carrying any of the above drugs in your luggage through an Indonesian airport is considered INTERNATIONAL DRUG TRAFFICKING and classified as an international criminal offense. The ‘trafficker’ will have to pay significant fines and stay in jail for a minimum sentence of 4 years unless proven innocent in an Indonesian court of law.
Driving this point home further, let it be known that if you are a traveler with a legitimate prescription for narcotics (OxyContin, Codeine, for example), prescriptions of over 14 days MAY NOT be valid in Indonesia. In fact, if a bottle of OXY or other narcotics (for medical personal consumption) is carried in to Indonesia without proof of prescription, there is a risk of heavy fines and a prison sentence will be applicable even if the ‘trafficker’ made an ‘innocent mistake’ and carried a prescribed amount over. This author is not clear on the facts but assumes that prescriptions of over 14 days MAY NOT be valid in Indonesia, and assumes that one must carry a written prescription to avoid penalty.
Unfortunately, since 2016 or so there has been an increasing number of ‘innocent’ foreigners who have been searched at customs in the Bali & Jakarta airports and ‘caught’ with a cannabis derivative in their possession and subsequently arrested for international drug trafficking. Their possession included quantities as small as ONE marijuana cookie, one joint mistakenly found in a wallet, topical HEMP massage oil, medicinal hemp supplements and other types, such as: medical marijuana, herbs, oils (topical or oral), marijuana edibles such as cookies/brownies/other). ANYTHING WITH CBD/THC/HEMP or a Marijuana Leaf will be confiscated and the offender will be booked for prosecution.
In fact, since 2018, every month there is at least one new person arrested and thrown in jail for as little as one small bottle of topical CBD oil or a cookie. 2019 booked a record high of foreigners being arrested at the airport for possession. And as of January 2020 the data shows that the minimum expense is to traffickers / offenders is 1 month in prison and minimum USD $50,000.00 in fines and fees."
"To repeat, the possession of or dealing with any drugs including CBD Oil, THC Oil (even if prescribed), medical Marijuana, cookies, edibles is indictable due to Indonesian law according to which drugs/narcotics are defined as follows:
Article 1.1. Any substance or medicine derived from plants or non-plants, either synthetic or semi-synthetic, which may cause degradation or change of consciousness, sensation loss, reduction through elimination of pain, and may cause dependence, which is differentiated into groups as referred to the law:
1. Therapeutically useless drugs, highly addictive like opium and its derivatives, heroin, cocaine, hashish, marijuana, MDMA (ecstasy), mescaline, LSD, amphetamine, methamphetamine, etc.
2. Therapeutically useful drugs but highly addictive like hydromorphone, oxycodone, pethidine, morphine ,etc.
3. Therapeutically useful but not as addictive as group 1&2 like dihydrocodeine, codeine, buprenorphine, etc.
Sentences can be high fines, jail up to life imprisonment and/or death penalty especially in case of trafficking."
Been reading a bit on customs foreigners might run afoul of. Attire away from beaches is conservative by western standards but varies by region. Public displays of affection betwixt romantic partners are frowned up (even a kiss between a married a couple), and from various sources I got the impression being recognized as homosexual (which I am not) is an issue that varies where location and can be volatile. I was going to find a quick article to link for concerned people to read, but got the impression the situation varies regionally, both legalities and social norms are at issue, and it's subject to change, so maybe better I suggest anyone it might pertain to considering a trip to Indonesia search out current articles for info. It gets confusing - I read that Indonesia is technically a secular nation (though heavily Muslim), but also saw reference to Sharia law having an impact. Might be worth concerned parties making a thread in the LGBTQIA Friends & Perspectives sub-forum, if that'd be useful.
Here are some notes I pulled together today:
Legal – Per WikiTravel.org’s Indonesia page, Indonesia imposes the death penalty on people caught bringing in drugs. Per the Indonesian Embassy in Helsinki, Finland, you may bring medication if it’s clear it’s only for personal use, you must declare it by using a customs declaration form and present a letter from your physician stating the amount you use per day and listing the medication and/or a cop of the original prescription to the customs officer. If you are questioned by the customs officer, you need to have these documents to prove it’s legally prescribed. It’s illegal to bring narcotics into Indonesia; if you bring medicines containing narcotics you must declare them with the customs declaration form, present a physician’s letter stating reason for taking it and a copy of original prescription to customs officers. Medications containing narcotics must be in original packaging, and dosage quantity must not exceed duration of visit.
Here's a list from the Embassy in Helsinki:
According to Narcotics Law of the Republic of Indonesia No. 22 / 1997, the type of narcotics such as the following are prohibited to enter Indonesian territory:
- Opium (Papaver Somniferum) Including it’s Plant, Ripe opium, ripe opium such as Opium Jicing and Jicingko
- Erythroxylon Cocca, Erythroxylon Cocca Including : it’s plant, Cocca leaves and unripe cocca
- Cocaine
- Marijuana
- Heroin
- Morphine
- Mirofina/Morphina
- Salts and derivatives
- Codeine
- Polkodina
- Mixture of Opium with other non-Narcotics substances
That marijuana mention concerned me because in the U.S., it breaks down into 3 issues:
1.) Marijuana - contains THC, a psychoactive agent.
2.) CBD - supposedly non-psychoactive agent with various purported benefits; some CBD products are essentially THC-free, and some have low levels.
3.) Hemp - still the marijuana plant, but from what I understand with very low levels of THC. In KY, there's a cut-off % for what's legal and what's not, for example.
In the U.S. mind, CBD and hemp. don't equal 'marijuana.' But what about Indonesian law? Well, some site called BaliSpirit had a lot to say about that. Some excerpts:
"It is a well-known fact that Indonesia, like its partner ASEAN countries (with the exception of Thailand), does not allow the sale or personal possession and/or trafficking of anything classified as a ‘drug’ or ‘narcotic’, including many recreational ‘drugs’ or substances that are legal in other countries, such as cannabis derivatives or even prescription narcotics for legitimate consumption.
Cannabis is illegal in Indonesia
Let it be known that although some countries have legalized the medical use of cannabis, that as of March 2021, Indonesia has NOT legalized Cannabis in any way shape or form, in fact the punishment for possession have gotten even stronger.""Moreover shipping/receiving or hand carrying into the country (via port or airport) any narcotics or cannabis derivatives can warrant huge fines and prison time. Knowingly receiving any marijuana or other drug in a package through the post office or knowingly carrying any of the above drugs in your luggage through an Indonesian airport is considered INTERNATIONAL DRUG TRAFFICKING and classified as an international criminal offense. The ‘trafficker’ will have to pay significant fines and stay in jail for a minimum sentence of 4 years unless proven innocent in an Indonesian court of law.
Driving this point home further, let it be known that if you are a traveler with a legitimate prescription for narcotics (OxyContin, Codeine, for example), prescriptions of over 14 days MAY NOT be valid in Indonesia. In fact, if a bottle of OXY or other narcotics (for medical personal consumption) is carried in to Indonesia without proof of prescription, there is a risk of heavy fines and a prison sentence will be applicable even if the ‘trafficker’ made an ‘innocent mistake’ and carried a prescribed amount over. This author is not clear on the facts but assumes that prescriptions of over 14 days MAY NOT be valid in Indonesia, and assumes that one must carry a written prescription to avoid penalty.
Unfortunately, since 2016 or so there has been an increasing number of ‘innocent’ foreigners who have been searched at customs in the Bali & Jakarta airports and ‘caught’ with a cannabis derivative in their possession and subsequently arrested for international drug trafficking. Their possession included quantities as small as ONE marijuana cookie, one joint mistakenly found in a wallet, topical HEMP massage oil, medicinal hemp supplements and other types, such as: medical marijuana, herbs, oils (topical or oral), marijuana edibles such as cookies/brownies/other). ANYTHING WITH CBD/THC/HEMP or a Marijuana Leaf will be confiscated and the offender will be booked for prosecution.
In fact, since 2018, every month there is at least one new person arrested and thrown in jail for as little as one small bottle of topical CBD oil or a cookie. 2019 booked a record high of foreigners being arrested at the airport for possession. And as of January 2020 the data shows that the minimum expense is to traffickers / offenders is 1 month in prison and minimum USD $50,000.00 in fines and fees."
"To repeat, the possession of or dealing with any drugs including CBD Oil, THC Oil (even if prescribed), medical Marijuana, cookies, edibles is indictable due to Indonesian law according to which drugs/narcotics are defined as follows:
Article 1.1. Any substance or medicine derived from plants or non-plants, either synthetic or semi-synthetic, which may cause degradation or change of consciousness, sensation loss, reduction through elimination of pain, and may cause dependence, which is differentiated into groups as referred to the law:
1. Therapeutically useless drugs, highly addictive like opium and its derivatives, heroin, cocaine, hashish, marijuana, MDMA (ecstasy), mescaline, LSD, amphetamine, methamphetamine, etc.
2. Therapeutically useful drugs but highly addictive like hydromorphone, oxycodone, pethidine, morphine ,etc.
3. Therapeutically useful but not as addictive as group 1&2 like dihydrocodeine, codeine, buprenorphine, etc.
Sentences can be high fines, jail up to life imprisonment and/or death penalty especially in case of trafficking."
