Drug Supplier to Former Bima Police Chief Arrested in Tanjung Balai
Erwin Iskandar, alias Ko Erwin, a major drug supplier to former Bima City Police Chief AKBP Didik Putra Kuncoro and former Narcotics Chief AKP Malaungi, has been arrested. Ko Erwin was apprehended whilst fleeing to Malaysia in Tanjung Balai, North Sumatra, on Thursday (26 February 2026).
“Confirmed, the individual in question has been secured and is currently en route to the Criminal Investigation Directorate of the National Police,” said Brigadier General Eko Hadi Santoso, Director of Narcotics Crime at the National Police’s Criminal Investigation Directorate, in a statement on Friday (27 February 2026) as reported by detikNews.
The head of the Narcotics Investigation Center Task Force at the Criminal Investigation Directorate, Kombes Kevin Leleury, stated that Ko Erwin was arrested in Tanjung Balai, North Sumatra, whilst preparing to cross into Malaysia.
In addition to Ko Erwin, the Criminal Investigation Directorate also arrested two others, with initials A alias G in Riau and R alias K in Tanjung Balai. According to Kevin, these two suspects were also arrested for arranging Ko Erwin’s escape plan abroad.
Ko Erwin and the two other suspects arrived at Soekarno-Hatta Airport at 08:00 Western Indonesia Time this morning. All three are now being brought to the Criminal Investigation Directorate for further questioning.
It was previously reported that the West Nusa Tenggara Regional Police had placed three individuals on the wanted persons list in connection with a narcotics case involving former Bima City Police Narcotics Chief AKP Malaungi and former Bima City Police Chief AKBP Didik Putra Kuncoro.
One of those placed on the wanted list was Koko Erwin, a drug trafficker who provided money and methamphetamine to Didik and Malaungi. “Yes (wanted person). Still being searched for,” said the West Nusa Tenggara Regional Police’s Director of Narcotics Investigation, Kombes Roman Smaradhana Elhaj, on Thursday (26 February 2026).
The search for this methamphetamine trafficker was not only conducted by the West Nusa Tenggara Regional Police team. It also involved the National Police’s Criminal Investigation Directorate. “We are committed to pursuing this wanted person. Currently in pursuit,” he stated.
Koko Erwin has been designated as a suspect. He is alleged to have provided 1 billion rupiah to former Bima City Police Chief AKBP Didik Putra Kuncoro to enable the distribution of methamphetamine.
The money was transferred by Koko Erwin to an account controlled by Malaungi, which was subsequently handed to Didik Putra Kuncoro. Thereafter, Koko Erwin provided Malaungi with 488 grams of methamphetamine, which would subsequently be distributed to Sumbawa Island.
In addition to funds from Koko Erwin, Didik Putra Kuncoro is said to have received 1.8 billion rupiah from a drug trafficker named Boy. Boy has not yet been designated as a suspect and has not been placed on the wanted list. According to Roman, Boy’s true identity is still being investigated. “We will investigate his identity further first. We must avoid making a mistake and causing further problems. We will investigate further,” said Roman.
Koko Erwin is on the wanted list alongside two of his subordinates, Satriawan and Ais Setiawati respectively. “Those we have placed on the wanted list are K.E. (Koko Erwin), S (Satriawan) and A (Ais Setiawati),” he said.
These two names emerged in the arrest of Bima City Police’s Criminal Investigation Unit member Bripka Irfan alias Karol and his wife, Anita, as well as two others, Herman and Yusril Isamahendra. From that arrest, police seized 30.415 grams of methamphetamine.
Satriawan is alleged to have supplied methamphetamine to Anita. After the methamphetamine was sold, Anita deposited the proceeds into an account belonging to Ais Setiawati.
These two individuals, according to Roman, were subordinates of Koko Erwin. “S (Satriawan) and A (Ais Setiawati) are Koko Erwin’s operatives,” he said.
Roman emphasised that the Criminal Investigation Directorate and the West Nusa Tenggara Regional Police’s Narcotics Investigation Directorate would be committed to apprehending the wanted persons. This includes investigating Boy’s true identity.
“We will pursue them. Many cases that initially involved wanted persons have already resulted in arrests,” he concluded.