Joint team searches for two police officers swept away in river during drug lord arrest

A joint team is continuing the search for two personnel from the Katingan Police Narcotics Unit, Aiptu Sumariyanto and Bripda Nopandri Ramadhana, who are believed to have been swept away in the Katingan River while carrying out an arrest operation against a suspected drug lord on Thursday (2/7). “Our main focus at the moment is combing the Katingan River flow to find our two members. We have deployed all available resources to accelerate the search process,” said Katingan Police Chief, Adjunct Senior Commissioner Dodik Hartanto, when confirmed from Palangka Raya on Friday. He stated that the search is being conducted intensively, involving a joint team of personnel from the Central Kalimantan Police’s Water and Air Police Directorate and Mobile Brigade, as well as the Palangka Raya Search and Rescue Office (Basarnas). The joint team is combing several points along the Katingan River flow, believed to be the last known location of the two personnel during the enforcement operation against the suspected drug lord in Tumbang Kelemei Village, Katingan Tengah District. “We are not working alone. All elements involved continue to coordinate so that the search process can run optimally,” he said. Dodik explained that the search process faces several obstacles in the field. The swift current of the Katingan River means the team must work more carefully to ensure the safety of personnel during the SAR operation. Despite this, sweeping efforts continue by expanding the search area along the riverbanks and the water surface using available personnel and equipment. “The river current conditions are indeed a challenge, but we will continue the search to the best of our ability,” he said. Previously, the Katingan Police Narcotics Unit carried out an enforcement operation against a suspected drug lord in Tumbang Kalemei Village, Katingan Regency, in the early hours of Thursday (2/7). During the operation, it was reported that two Katingan Police Narcotics Unit personnel allegedly fell and were swept away by the Katingan River current. As of Friday afternoon, the two police officers had still not been found, and the search operation was ongoing, involving all elements within the search team. “We ask for prayers and support from the entire community so that our two members can be found soon. We will continue to strive until the search process yields results,” said Dodik.