Batam, Riau Islands, Oct. 6 -- Police in Indonesia's Riau Islands are ramping up efforts to dismantle cross-border drug networks, particularly those linked to Malaysia, amid a sharp rise in narcotics-related arrests in 2025.

"Our investigation shows that the drug networks operating in the Riau Islands originate from Malaysia," said Head of the Riau Islands Police Narcotics Investigation Unit Senior Commissioner Anggoro Wicaksono on Monday in Batam.

He explained that the networks involve couriers, traffickers, and local distributors.

"We're fully committed to exposing these networks. Drug users will be assessed and referred for rehabilitation in coordination with the National Narcotics Agency. However, traffickers and couriers will face...