Bandar Seri Begawan – Brunei Darussalam and Indonesia have formalised their first bilateral framework to combat drug abuse and trafficking, with the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB), Prime Minister's Office, and Indonesia's National Narcotics Board (BNN) signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Monday.

The agreement aims to strengthen cooperative mechanisms across the ASEAN region through the exchange of information, expertise and best practices in drug law enforcement, prevention education, and the treatment and rehabilitation of drug addiction.

The MoU was signed at Balai Khazanah Islam Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah by NCB Director Dato Paduka Haji Mohd Zalani bin Haji Ismail on behalf of Brunei Darussalam, and Police Inspector General Drs Agus Irianto, Deputy for Legal Affairs and Cooperation of BNN, representing the Republic of Indonesia.

The signing ceremony was witnessed by Acting Permanent Secretary (Security and Law) at the Prime Minister's Office Awang Zulhusam bin Haji Abdul Samad, who was the guest of honour. Also present was the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Indonesia to Brunei Darussalam, Professor Dr Achmad Ubaedillah.

As part of the programme, Drs Agus Irianto delivered a special talk titled "Indonesia's Experience: Evolving Drug Trafficking Trends, Transnational Syndicate and Operational Responses", sharing insights on regional drug trafficking patterns and enforcement strategies. The session was attended by chairpersons and members of working committees under the National Security Committee, senior officials from the Prime Minister's Office, the Attorney General's Chambers, the Ministry of Home Affairs and the NCB.

Earlier, Drs Agus Irianto paid a courtesy call on Awang Zulhusam, during which both sides exchanged views on current drug-related challenges and explored avenues to further strengthen bilateral cooperation in combating drug-related crimes.

Source: https://asianews.network/brunei-indonesia-ink-first-anti-drug-mou