Is MDMA legal in Aceh (Indonesia)?
- Legal status
- Controlled as a Category I narcotic under Indonesia's national Narcotics Law No. 35 of 2009, which applies in Aceh — organized or large-scale trafficking is capital-eligible (the death penalty is NATIONAL under Law 35/2009, NOT a separate Aceh statute), while possession and lower-level offences carry imprisonment from 4 years or court-ordered rehabilitation, and the qanun jinayat add caning for certain offences; the precise article and threshold are left to confirmation against the current law
- Consequences if caught
- MDMA is controlled in Aceh under Indonesia's national Narcotics Law No. 35 of 2009 (applied in Aceh). In Aceh, drugs fall under Indonesia's national Narcotics Law No. 35 of 2009 (Articles 111–127), which applies in the province; Aceh ADDITIONALLY applies the qanun jinayat (Islamic criminal bylaws) imposing caning for certain offences as a corporal-punishment overlay distinct from the national penal regime. Organized or large-scale trafficking of Category I narcotics is capital-eligible — the death penalty is NATIONAL (under Law 35/2009), NOT a separate Aceh statute, and Indonesia actively imposes drug death sentences. Possession and lower-level offences carry imprisonment from 4 years or court-ordered rehabilitation; the precise article and threshold are left to confirmation against the current law. This cell is sourced via the UNODC legal database (unodc.org/cld) and the Library of Congress, with the qanun framing corroborated in free text.
- If prescribed or medical
- Not a prescribed traveller medicine in this form.
- Documentation
- In Aceh, drugs fall under Indonesia's national Narcotics Law No. 35 of 2009 (Articles 111–127), which applies in the province; Aceh ADDITIONALLY applies the qanun jinayat (Islamic criminal bylaws) imposing caning for certain offences as a corporal-punishment overlay distinct from the national penal regime. Organized or large-scale trafficking of Category I narcotics is capital-eligible — the death penalty is NATIONAL (under Law 35/2009), NOT a separate Aceh statute, and Indonesia actively imposes drug death sentences. Possession and lower-level offences carry imprisonment from 4 years or court-ordered rehabilitation; the precise article and threshold are left to confirmation against the current law. This cell is sourced via the UNODC legal database (unodc.org/cld) and the Library of Congress, with the qanun framing corroborated in free text. Carry any controlled medicine with its prescription and confirm requirements with your embassy before travel.
Drug laws and enforcement change and vary within a country. This is not legal advice. Always confirm with Aceh (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 →
