Arrest of Drug Kingpin Ko Erwin Following Police Capture
The flight of Erwin Iskandar, alias Ko Erwin, has come to an end. The methamphetamine kingpin who controlled operations in West Nusa Tenggara Province has been arrested by the Criminal Investigation Police (Bareskrim) of the Indonesian National Police in Tanjung Balai, North Sumatra.
Brigadier General Eko Hadi Santoso, Director of Narcotics Crime (Dittipidnarkoba) at Bareskrim, confirmed the arrest of the wanted fugitive Ko Erwin. Ko Erwin was apprehended on Thursday, 26 February 2026.
“It is correct that the wanted person Erwin has been arrested by a joint team from Subdit IV and the NIC Task Force of Dittipidnarkoba Bareskrim. Further details will be provided during a press conference,” said Brigadier General Eko Hadi to journalists on Friday (27/2/2026).
Ko Erwin was arrested by a joint team from Subdit IV of the Directorate of Narcotics Crime (Dittipidnarkoba) at Bareskrim and the NIC Task Force of Dittipidnarkoba Bareskrim under the command of Senior Commissioner Handik Zusen and Senior Commissioner Kevin Leleury. He was apprehended whilst attempting to flee to Malaysia, after being a fugitive for nearly a week.
The fugitive drug kingpin was subsequently flown to Jakarta and arrived at Soekarno-Hatta Airport, Cengkareng, at 08.00 WIB this morning under strict police escort. Ko Erwin wore a white mask and black hat with his hands shackled before being led into a police vehicle.
Ko Erwin was arrested after being placed on the Bareskrim’s wanted persons list (DPO), issued under letter number DPO/23/II/RES.4.2./2026/Dittipidnarkoba, dated 21 February 2026.
“The arrest was carried out in Tanjung Balai, North Sumatra. He was being transported across by boat and was suspected of intending to travel to Malaysia,” said Senior Commissioner Kevin Leleury at Soekarno-Hatta Airport.
Kevin stated that Ko Erwin offered some resistance when apprehended by officers, but this did not impede the police in securing him.
Besides Ko Erwin, two other men were also detained in connection with the Ko Erwin case. The two suspects—A alias G, arrested in Riau, and R alias K, arrested in Tanjung Balai, North Sumatra—are alleged to have played a role in arranging Ko Erwin’s escape plan to leave the country.
“According to their statements, they arranged for the wanted person to flee to Malaysia,” he added.
Ko Erwin was arrested in connection with a case involving former Bima Police Chief AKBP Didik Putra Kuncoro and former Bima Police Narcotics Chief AKP Malaungi. Kevin did not elaborate on Ko Erwin’s specific role.
“Full details will be presented by the Director,” he concluded.