Drug Dealer Ko Erwin Arrested in Connection with Former Bima City Police Chief
Police have finally captured Erwin Iskandar, alias Ko Erwin, a methamphetamine kingpin implicated in a major scandal involving former Bima City Police Chief AKBP Didik Putra Kuncoro and former Bima City Police Drug Taskforce Head AKP Malaungi.
The man who controlled methamphetamine distribution operations throughout the West Nusa Tenggara region (NTB) was arrested by the National Police’s Criminal Investigation Directorate (Bareskrim Polri) in Tanjung Balai, North Sumatra.
Brigadier General Eko Hadi Santoso, Director of Drug Crime at Bareskrim Polri, confirmed the arrest of fugitive Ko Erwin. Ko Erwin was apprehended on Thursday, 26 February 2026.
“It is correct that Ko Erwin has been arrested by a joint team from Subdit IV and the NIC Taskforce of the Drug Crime Directorate at Bareskrim Polri. Further details will be provided at a press conference,” stated Brigadier General Eko Hadi to journalists on Friday (27 February 2026).
Ko Erwin was arrested by a joint team from Subdit IV of the Drug Crime Directorate (Dittipidnarkoba) at Bareskrim Polri and the NIC Taskforce at Dittipidnarkoba under the leadership of Senior Commissioner Handik Zusen and Senior Commissioner Kevin Leleury. He was arrested whilst attempting to flee to Malaysia after being a fugitive for nearly a week.
The drug trafficking fugitive was subsequently flown to Jakarta and arrived at Soekarno-Hatta Airport in Cengkareng at 08:00 Western Indonesian Time this morning under heavy police escort. Ko Erwin was wearing a white mask and black hat with hands shackled as he was led into a police vehicle.
Ko Erwin was arrested after being placed on the National Police’s most-wanted list through circular number DPO/23/II/RES.4.2./2026/Dittipidnarkoba, issued on 21 February 2026.
“The arrest was carried out in Tanjung Balai, North Sumatra, whilst he was attempting to cross by ship to what was believed to be Malaysia,” stated Senior Commissioner Kevin Leleury at Soekarno-Hatta Airport.
Kevin stated that Ko Erwin offered some resistance when apprehended but this did not hinder the police operation.
In addition to Ko Erwin, two other men have been detained in connection with the case. The two suspects are identified as A alias G, arrested in Riau, and R alias K, arrested in Tanjung Balai.
It was previously reported that former Bima City Police Chief Didik Putra Kuncoro allegedly received Rp 1 billion from Ko Erwin. Didik also allegedly requested a Toyota Alphard vehicle. Ko Erwin also supplied approximately half a kilogram of methamphetamine to former Drug Taskforce Head AKP Malaungi.