Is Ephedrine legal in Indonesia?
- Legal status
- Regulated as a chemical PRECURSOR (1988 UN Convention Table I — a methamphetamine precursor), NOT as a scheduled narcotic; a Prekursor Narkotika (Tabel I) under Law No. 35/2009 + PP 44/2010 (diversion offence = Art. 129). BPOM-regulated medicine.
- Consequences if caught
- No capital exposure — Art. 129 precursor offence is 4–20 years; the death penalty (arts. 113/114) attaches to Category-I NARCOTIC trafficking, not precursors.
- If prescribed or medical
- Also a pharmacy/prescription decongestant-bronchodilator medicine subject to sales limits; carry documentation for a personal supply.
- Documentation
- Original prescription stating your name, the medication, dosage, and purpose; a doctor's letter; original packaging; declare on the customs form. Prescriptions for more than 14 days may not be honoured. Foreign origin or ignorance of the law is not a defence, and the zero-tolerance regime applies equally to foreigners.
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 →