DENPASAR, BALINEWSID.COM  – Bali Governor Wayan Koster has warned that the island must not lower its guard against the rising threat of drug abuse and illicit trafficking, stressing that Bali’s status as a global tourism destination demands a stronger, more integrated prevention system rooted in local wisdom.

The statement was delivered during the opening of the 2026 Regional Coordination Meeting on the Prevention and Eradication of Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking (P4GN) for Bali Province, held at Wiswa Sabha Utama Hall, the Bali Governor’s Office, on Thursday (February 5, 2026).

Governor Koster emphasized that narcotics pose a serious threat to Bali’s sustainable development. With a population of approximately 4.4 million people and an economy that relies up to 66 percent on tourism, drug circulation could severely damage social stability and tarnish Bali’s international image.

“After receiving an audience with the Head of the National Narcotics Agency and reviewing the data presented, I realized that drug-related issues must be handled with utmost seriousness. Bali may be small in size, but it has extraordinary global appeal,” Koster said.

He underlined that drug control efforts cannot be carried out partially, but must involve comprehensive and coordinated action from upstream to downstream. This includes strong collaboration among the government, law enforcement agencies, the National Narcotics Agency (BNN), and grassroots communities.

During the meeting, Governor Koster strongly encouraged strengthening prevention efforts through customary villages by formulating and enforcing pararem (customary regulations) on anti-drug measures. According to him, pararem can serve as a strategic instrument to reinforce social control, raise collective awareness, and protect the younger generation from narcotics.

“Customary villages play a crucial role. Anti-drug pararem must become a stronghold of local wisdom, providing clear and firm rules for communities to prevent drug abuse,” he asserted.

The 2026 P4GN coordination meeting is expected to produce concrete, measurable, and integrated regional action plans, covering early detection, prevention, rehabilitation, and the eradication of narcotics distribution networks across Bali.

These efforts align with the Bali development vision Nangun Sat Kerthi Loka Bali, which emphasizes balance, harmony, and sustainability in both the physical (sekala) and spiritual (niskala) dimensions of Balinese life.

Governor Koster also called on all elements of society to work together and strengthen mutual cooperation to safeguard Bali from drug threats, in order to realize a safe, dignified, and globally competitive Bali.

Meanwhile, Head of the Bali Provincial National Narcotics Agency (BNN), Brigadier General Pol. Drs. Budi Sajidin, revealed that drug abuse and trafficking in Bali continue to evolve in increasingly complex and alarming ways.

Based on 2025 data, he noted that drug cases are frequently uncovered in urban areas and major tourism zones, including Denpasar City, Badung Regency, Buleleng, and other regions. Bali’s position as an international tourist destination places it at high risk of becoming a target for narcotics networks.

He also highlighted the emergence of new types of drugs and changing crime patterns, such as the infusion of addictive substances into vape liquids and the existence of clandestine laboratories, which demand adaptive and progressive policy responses.

“Limited rehabilitation facilities, low stakeholder participation, and the lack of widespread implementation of local wisdom-based regulations such as anti-drug pararem remain major challenges that must be addressed collectively,” he said.

To respond to these challenges, BNN Bali is promoting several strategic measures, including the establishment of an integrated, region-owned rehabilitation center, strengthening cross-agency drug enforcement task forces, and implementing decriminalization and depenalization policies for pure drug users, directing them toward rehabilitation through integrated assessment mechanisms.

Through a collaborative governance approach, drug control efforts in Bali are expected to be carried out comprehensively with strong synergy between the government, law enforcement agencies, communities, and all relevant stakeholders.

Carrying the spirit of War on Drugs for Humanity, Bali remains committed to enforcing state authority while upholding humanitarian values to protect the younger generation and strengthen social resilience.

The public is encouraged to actively participate in prevention efforts by reporting or consulting drug-related issues through Call Center 184 or other official complaint services. Collective action from all elements of society is seen as the key to safeguarding Bali from drug threats and realizing a Drug-Free Bali (Bali Bersinar). (*)