Bareskrim Arrests Two Fugitives in 48 Kg Methamphetamine Case Linked to Indonesia-Malaysia Network
The National Police Criminal Investigation Agency (Bareskrim) has arrested two individuals on the wanted list (DPO) in a narcotics case involving an Indonesia-Malaysia network in Bengkalis, Riau. Dozens of kilogrammes of narcotics, including methamphetamine and ketamine, were previously seized by police.
The two fugitives captured are Indra Bayu and Solihin. They were arrested by police at two different locations, both still within Bengkalis Regency, in the early hours of Tuesday (16/6/2026).
The Director of Narcotics Crime at Bareskrim, Brigadier General Eko Hadi Santoso, explained that both men were fugitives from a narcotics case uncovered in Bengkalis on 18 May 2026. At that time, they fled when officers attempted to arrest them for smuggling narcotics from Malaysia.
“Based on the results of investigative development, on 15 June 2026, the team obtained information regarding the whereabouts of DPO Indra Bayu, who was suspected of involvement in the narcotics smuggling case,” said Brigadier General Eko in a statement today.
Following up on this information, Bareskrim conducted surveillance on Indra Bayu. Then, around 00.05 WIB, the Bareskrim team received information that Indra Bayu was hiding at his parents’ house in Muntai Village, Bantan District, Bengkalis Regency.
“Based on this information, the team carried out profiling and monitoring around the location suspected to be the target’s hiding place. At approximately 02.30 WIB, the team successfully secured Indra Bayu,” he stated.
From the initial examination of Indra Bayu, police found no narcotics or other illicit items. However, police obtained information from Indra Bayu regarding the involvement of DPO Solihin, who acted as an intermediary in renting the speedboat used in the narcotics smuggling operation last May.
“Based on this information, around 03.00 WIB, the team moved to Solihin’s house and successfully secured the individual concerned,” he said.
In the case development activity, Bareskrim secured both suspects, who are believed to be part of a transnational illicit narcotics trafficking network controlled by DPO Atuk Ham.
Brigadier General Eko stated that Indra Bayu admitted to working with Erwin and Nabil in the narcotics smuggling operation from Malaysia to Indonesia. Around early May 2026, Nabil invited Indra Bayu to collect 45 packages of methamphetamine from Malaysia.
“Around mid-May 2026, Indra Bayu asked Solihin to find and rent a speedboat to be used in the narcotics smuggling operation. Solihin was told that the speedboat would be used by Indra Bayu, Erwin, and Nabil to collect methamphetamine from Malaysia and bring it to Indonesia. For his assistance, Solihin was promised a fee of Rp 10,000,000 (ten million rupiah),” he explained.
On 15 May 2026, Solihin informed them that he had obtained a speedboat at a total cost of Rp 30,500,000, which included the boat rental fee and Solihin’s payment. The following day, Solihin handed over the speedboat to Indra Bayu and Erwin in the Sungai Muntai area, Bengkalis Regency.
On 17 May 2026, Indra Bayu, Erwin, and Nabil departed for Malaysia using the speedboat rented through Solihin to collect the narcotics. Upon arriving in the Batu Pahat, Sungai Panjang area of Malaysia, the three were instructed to wait and spend the night on a sampan until they received further directions.
A day later, the trio received two black boxes containing approximately 64 kilogrammes of narcotics, the type of which was not yet known, from a Malaysian national named WAN, to be transported to Indonesia via sea routes. While entering Indonesian waters, the three noticed they were being pursued by a Customs patrol boat.
“Fearing arrest, they decided to jump into the sea and escape through a mangrove forest, abandoning the speedboat along with the two boxes containing the narcotics,” he said.
Before their eventual arrest today, Indra Bayu and Solihin were fugitives in a narcotics case involving evidence of 48 kg of methamphetamine, 15 kg of ketamine, and 20,000 ecstasy pills. Currently, Bareskrim is still pursuing four other DPOs, namely Erwin, Nabil, Atuk Ham, and the Malaysian national with the initials WAN.
Brigadier General Eko stated that from the disclosure and seizure of evidence in this narcotics case, the estimated total economic value is Rp 137,480,562,000 (billion).
“Additionally, the estimated number of lives saved from potential narcotics abuse is approximately 314,466 individuals,” he added.