Drug Convict 'Encek' Captured During Myanmar Border Sweep

The Directorate of Drug Crimes (Dittipidnarkoba) of the Indonesian National Police (Bareskrim Polri) has explained the arrest process of drug convict Bayu Wicaksono, alias Encek, who had been on the run from the Class IIB Sukadana Prison in East Lampung since 2024. Encek was captured during a sweeping operation conducted by Myanmar authorities.

Brigadier General Eko Hadi, Director of Drug Crimes at Barespol Polri, stated that Encek escaped from the Sukadana Class IIB Detention Centre on 21 April 2024. Following his escape, Bareskrim Polri issued a wanted person notice (DPO) on 11 September 2025.

Encek’s whereabouts were subsequently detected on 17 July 2026, in Myanmar, where he was detained by local authorities.

“Myanmar authorities, while conducting sweeps in the Myanmar border region, secured one individual named Bayu Wicaksono, alias Encek, in Tachileik, Myanmar,” Eko said in a written statement on Monday (31/8/2026).

Eko noted that a team led by the Deputy Director of Drug Crimes, Commissioner Albert Raden Deddy Sulistyo Nugroho, along with the Interpol unit of the Indonesian National Police, departed for Myanmar on 28 August 2026. They subsequently coordinated with Myanmar police to facilitate Encek’s return.

“On 29 August 2026, the team from the Directorate of Drug Crimes and the Interpol unit coordinated with the Indonesian Embassy in Yangon, Myanmar, and the Myanmar Police to process the repatriation of the fugitive Bayu Wicaksono,” he said.

On 30 August, Myanmar police and immigration authorities handed Encek over to the Indonesian National Police Interpol team. He was subsequently repatriated from Myanmar and arrived at Soekarno-Hatta International Airport at 17:55 WIB.

Previously, the Directorate of Drug Crimes stated that Encek had been captured after being on the run from prison for two years. During his period of flight, Encek frequently moved through several Southeast Asian countries.

Investigations suggest that Encek did not merely hide during his escape. According to findings, Encek is suspected of remaining involved in controlling transnational narcotics businesses.

“After leaving Indonesia, he went to Malaysia, then to Thailand, before being detained in the Tachileik area, on the border of Thailand, Laos, and Myanmar,” said Deputy Director of Drug Crimes, Commissioner Albert Raden Deddy Sulistyo Nugroho.

“Therefore, while he was fleeing to Malaysia, he continued to control his methamphetamine networks across borders,” he added.