The research is aimed to elaborate and to analyze the role of the Indonesian Air Force in preventing drug smuggling in Halim Perdanakusuma International Airport. Drug Smuggling which is classified as one of the trans-national crimes becomes a huge non-traditional threat for national security. This research employs a qualitative method. Two types of data were used in this study. Data and documents related to drug smuggling in Halim Perdanakusuma International Airport were used as secondary data, while an in-depth interview with related stakeholders and observation were used as primary data. The result of the analysis showed that the Indonesian Air Force specifically stationed at Halim Perdana Kusuma International Airport plays an important role in securing the airport from such various threats as drug smuggling. The efforts for this purpose include placing the Indonesian Air Force personnel in the airport entry points, holding joint forces with the airport security, providing dog sniffers as well as training to improve the skills associated with the airport security and intelligence. Even though the Air Force has resources, personnel, and infrastructures for preventing drug smuggling threat that has now been transforming into a national security threat, it still needs to be supported by government policies implemented in the military operation other than war.
Fajar Rosyadi is a postgraduate student at the Department of Political Science, Universitas Padjadjaran, Indonesia.
Rizki Ananda Ramadhan is affiliated to the Department of International Relations, Universitas Padjadjaran, Bandung, Indonesia.
Email: rizki.ramadhan@unpad.ac.id