Border Policing and Transnational Crime in Indonesia: Institutional Coordination and Security Challenges

Abstract

Indonesia's extensive geographical boundaries and strategic maritime position create complex challenges for border policing and the prevention of transnational crime. Illegal trafficking, smuggling, irregular migration, and other cross-border activities require cooperation among multiple law enforcement and security institutions. This study examines institutional coordination in Indonesian border policing and identifies challenges affecting responses to transnational crime. The research employs qualitative analysis of institutional mandates, policy frameworks, and inter-agency coordination mechanisms. The study finds that overlapping responsibilities, differences in institutional priorities, information-sharing limitations, and uneven capabilities can complicate border security efforts. Effective border policing therefore requires integrated approaches that combine law enforcement, intelligence, technology, community participation, and international cooperation. The article argues that border security should not be conceptualised exclusively as territorial control but also as a multidimensional governance challenge involving human mobility, economic activity, and transnational criminal networks. The study contributes to the literature on border policing by examining the Indonesian experience and highlighting the institutional conditions required for effective cross-border law enforcement. It also provides policy implications for strengthening coordination and information integration among relevant Indonesian institutions.