Indonesian National Police Capture Drug Convict Who Escaped in 2024

The Indonesian National Police (Polri) have arrested Bayu Wicaksono, known as Encek, a prisoner convicted of drug-related crimes who had been on the run since escaping from the Class II B Sukadana Correctional Institution in East Lampung on 21 April 2024.

“He was secured in the Tachileik area, on the border of Myanmar, Thailand, and Laos, on 17 July 2026,” stated the Deputy Director of Narcotics Crimes of the Indonesian National Police Criminal Investigation Agency, Commissioner Albert Raden Deddy Sulistyo Nugroho, at the National Police Criminal Investigation Agency building in Jakarta on Sunday.

Albert stated that the police subsequently brought Encek back to Indonesia, and he arrived this Sunday.

“The individual is now in our custody and has just arrived in the country,” he said.

Furthermore, he revealed that Encek had travelled to Malaysia after escaping from the Sukadana prison.

“After leaving Indonesia for Malaysia, he proceeded to Thailand, before eventually being apprehended in the Tachileik area, on the border of Thailand, Laos, and Myanmar,” he added.

Additionally, he disclosed that Encek had continued to manage a drug network during his period of escape.

“Therefore, while he was fleeing to Malaysia, he continued to control his methamphetamine network across international borders,” he revealed.