Indonesian police have made the largest ever seizure of the drug crystal methamphetamine in the nation's history.

Key points: Fifty-one boxes of crystal meth found in two vans about 100km from Jakarta

Fifty-one boxes of crystal meth found in two vans about 100km from Jakarta One Taiwanese national shot dead and two arrested

One Taiwanese national shot dead and two arrested Men face execution by firing squad if found guilty

One tonne of the drug, also known as shabu, was seized after a raid of a hotel in Serang in Banten on the island of Java.

Jakarta police said 51 boxes of the drug were found in two vans near a beach near the Mandalika Hotel, about 100 kilometres from the capital.

Two Taiwanese nationals were arrested, while another was shot dead during the raid.

"We received the information from Taiwan police," senior police commissioner Nico Afinta said.

"One of them resisted arrest and so we firmly took action."

If found guilty the men face execution by firing squad.

The arrest came on Indonesia's national anti-drugs day.

Police said the drugs would have had a street value of 1 trillion rupiah, or $100 million.