Authorities seize 80 sacks of suspected cyanide in North Gorontalo

A joint task force comprising Customs, the Indonesian Navy, and maritime police intercepted 80 sacks suspected of containing cyanide, believed to have originated from the Philippines. The operation spanned the waters of Central Sulawesi and the North Gorontalo region.

Following intelligence received on September 23, 2026, authorities tracked a vessel to Lango Beach in Buol, Central Sulawesi. Although the ship and initial cargo had moved by the time land teams arrived, officers pursued a truck suspected of transporting the goods. The truck was intercepted at a warehouse in Tolinggula, North Gorontalo.

Authorities detained three individuals: a 31-year-old woman claiming ownership of the goods, a 22-year-old driver, and a 25-year-old assistant. During a simultaneous maritime pursuit, the Customs patrol vessel BC 30006 intercepted an unnamed ship in Molangato waters. While four crew members reportedly jumped overboard to escape, two individuals were successfully apprehended.