Is Barbiturates legal in Indonesia?
- Legal status
- Barbiturates are Psikotropika substances scheduled by compound under Law No. 5/1997 — the sedative-hypnotic barbiturates (secobarbital, pentobarbital, amobarbital) in Golongan III and phenobarbital/barbital in the lowest Golongan IV — transposing the 1971 Convention.
- Consequences if caught
- Unlawful possession without a prescription up to 5 years and/or Rp 100 million (Pasal 62). Indonesia's death penalty applies only to Narkotika Golongan I (heroin, cocaine, methamphetamine, cannabis) under Law No. 35/2009 — barbiturates are not death-eligible.
- If prescribed or medical
- Phenobarbital is dispensed as a Golongan IV antiepileptic (a WHO Essential Medicine); the higher-tier sedative-hypnotic barbiturates are tightly controlled.
- Documentation
- Carry a prescription and original packaging; declare controlled medicines and confirm import rules with BPOM.
Drug laws and enforcement change and vary within a country. This is not legal advice. Always confirm with Indonesia’s embassy or official drug authority before traveling; penalties can be severe, including imprisonment.
Before you travel
Verify current rules with the destination country’s official drug authority and your own country’s embassy before traveling. Find the destination’s U.S. embassy & official country guidance →
Non-U.S. travelers: check your own government’s travel advisory and embassy.
If you’re detained or arrested abroad
Contact your own country’s embassy or consulate in the destination immediately — not the destination’s authorities. U.S. citizens: contact the nearest U.S. embassy/consulate and the U.S. State Department at +1-202-501-4444 (from abroad). If a U.S. citizen is arrested or detained abroad →