Drug Trafficker Koh Erwin Arrested Attempting to Flee to Malaysia from North Sumatra Port
The Indonesian National Police’s Criminal Investigation Directorate (Bareskrim Polri) arrested drug trafficker Erwin Iskandar Bin Iskandar, commonly known as Koh Erwin, on Thursday, 26 February, whilst attempting to flee to Malaysia.
Head of the Bareskrim Polri’s Narcotics Directorate Special Task Force, Senior Commissioner Kevin Leleury stated that the methamphetamine supplier to former Bima City Police Chief AKBP Didik Putra Kuncoro was apprehended at Tanjung Balai Port, Asahan District, North Sumatra.
“The arrest was carried out in North Sumatra as the wanted person attempted to cross using a vessel, as he was suspected of intending to flee to Malaysia,” Kevin told media representatives at Soekarno-Hatta Airport on Friday, 27 February.
Kevin indicated that Koh Erwin was immediately transported to Jakarta via Citilink flight QG 911 from Kualanamu International Airport.
Based on observations, Koh Erwin exited Terminal 1C of Soekarno-Hatta Airport at approximately 07.50 Western Indonesia Time under strict guard from dozens of Bareskrim Polri personnel. Seven police officers were seen surrounding Koh Erwin.
Koh Erwin’s hands were handcuffed. Dozens of Bareskrim Polri’s Narcotics Directorate personnel, dressed entirely in black with face coverings displaying white skull imagery, escorted Koh Erwin until he entered a vehicle.
“The wanted person will subsequently be transported to Bareskrim Polri for further interrogation,” Kevin stated.
Previously, the Bareskrim Polri’s Directorate of Narcotics Crimes had designated drug trafficker Erwin Iskandar Bin Iskandar, alias Koh Erwin, as a Wanted Person (DPO).
The designation was made after Bareskrim assumed responsibility for the narcotics trafficking case, which also involved former Bima City Police Chief AKBP Didik Putra Kuncoro. The wanted person notice, numbered DPO/23/II/RES.4.2./2026/Dittipidnarkoba, was issued under the name Erwin Iskandar, an Indonesian citizen born in Makassar on 30 May 1969.
Koh Erwin faces charges under Article 114 paragraph (2) read together with Article 132 paragraph (1) and/or Article 137 letter a of Law Number 35 Year 2009 concerning Narcotics, along with relevant provisions in the latest Indonesian Criminal Code.
Kasubdit III of Bareskrim Polri’s Narcotics Directorate, Senior Commissioner Zulkarnain Harahap explained that Koh Erwin allegedly served as a trafficker who channelled monetary deposits through former Bima City Police Narcotics Section Head AKP Malaungi to AKBP Didik.
During case development, Koh Erwin allegedly agreed to pay contributions of Rp1 billion, though only Rp300 million was realised.
“So you can understand that Rp1.8 billion was money from an older network. Subsequently, because of the commotion, eventually the Section Head was pressured to prepare an Alpard vehicle, and it was then that the Section Head made contact with Koh Erwin or KE. Now that 400 grams of goods belonged to KE, which the Section Head possessed,” Harahap explained.