Is Methaqualone (Quaaludes) legal in Indonesia?
- Legal status
- Methaqualone (metakualon) is a Psikotropika Golongan II under Law No. 5 of 1997 on Psychotropics — Indonesia controls it under the psychotropics statute, NOT the Narcotics Law No. 35/2009; this is the named transposition of its 1971 Convention Schedule II status, though methaqualone has no marketed medical use despite the category's 'therapeutic' label.
- Consequences if caught
- Unlawful production, trafficking or possession is penalised under Law No. 5/1997 with multi-year imprisonment and fines; Indonesia's wider drug enforcement is severe, though the death penalty attaches to Narcotics-Law Golongan I trafficking rather than to psychotropics like methaqualone.
- If prescribed or medical
- No recognised medical use / withdrawn — methaqualone is not marketed as a medicine in Indonesia.
- Documentation
- No medical or traveller route; there is no lawful prescription supply.
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
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If you’re detained or arrested abroad
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