Indonesia to send back 2 Dutch drug traffickers, one facing death penalty

JAKARTA, Indonesia Indonesia and the Netherlands have reached an agreement to repatriate two Dutch nationals imprisoned for drug offenses in Indonesia. One of the prisoners is on death row, while the other is serving a life sentence. The arrangement follows a request from the Dutch king and the foreign ministry, citing the deteriorating health of both men, according to Indonesias senior law minister, Yusril Ihza Mahendra.

Mahendra, who formalized the agreement in Jakarta, stated that President Prabowo Subianto approved the request, with plans for the men to return to the Netherlands on December 8. Dutch Foreign Minister David van Weel signed the corresponding document in Amsterdam in a ceremony attended by delegations from both nations.

The inmate on death row, 74-year-old Siegfried Mets, was convicted for his role in shipping 600,000 ecstasy tablets from the Netherlands to Indonesia in February 2008 and has been in Jakartas prison system for 17 years. The second prisoner, 65-year-old Ali Tokman, was arrested at Surabaya airport in December 2014 after authorities discovered over 6 kilograms of MDMA. He has completed 11 years of his life sentence.

Dutch Ambassador Marc Gerritsen emphasized that the repatriation was requested for humanitarian reasons and expressed gratitude for Indonesias approval, highlighting that the transfer strengthens judicial cooperation between the two countries.

Under President Prabowos leadership, Indonesia has previously repatriated several foreign prisoners under bilateral agreements. Past cases include a Filipina facing the death penalty for drugs, five Australians convicted of heroin trafficking, and two British nationals sentenced to death and life imprisonment for drug smuggling.

Despite strict drug laws, Indonesia remains a major hub for drug trafficking, partly due to international syndicates targeting its young population. Currently, around 530 individuals are on death row in Indonesia, nearly 100 of them foreigners, mostly for drug-related offenses. The countrys most recent executions occurred in July 2016, involving both an Indonesian citizen and three foreign nationals.

Author: Olivia Parker