Police Arrest Fugitive Drug Trafficker Ko Erwin in North Sumatra
The Criminal Investigation Directorate of the Indonesian National Police moved swiftly to apprehend fugitive drug trafficker Erwin Iskandar, alias Ko Erwin, in West Nusa Tenggara. Ko Erwin was arrested whilst fleeing in Tanjung Balai, North Sumatra, en route to Malaysia.
Brigadier General Eko Hadi Santoso, Director of the Narcotics Crime Directorate of the Criminal Investigation Directorate, confirmed Ko Erwin’s arrest. Ko Erwin was apprehended in Tanjung Balai, North Sumatra, on Thursday, 26 February.
“Confirmed, the individual has been secured and is currently en route to the Criminal Investigation Directorate,” said Brigadier General Eko Hadi in a statement on Friday, 27 February 2026.
Separately, Colonel Kevin Leleury, Head of the Special Task Force for Narcotics Crime at the Criminal Investigation Directorate, stated that Ko Erwin was arrested in Tanjung Balai, North Sumatra, whilst preparing to cross into Malaysia. Besides Ko Erwin, the unit also apprehended two other suspects: an individual with initials A, alias G, arrested in Riau, and another with initials R, alias K, apprehended in Tanjung Balai.
According to Colonel Kevin, both suspects were arrested for orchestrating Ko Erwin’s escape plan to a foreign country.
“Their statements indicate they arranged for this wanted person to flee to Malaysia,” Kevin stated.
Ko Erwin and the two other suspects arrived at Soekarno-Hatta Airport at 08:00 Western Indonesian Time this morning. The three are currently being transported to the Criminal Investigation Directorate for further questioning.
Wanted Person Status
Previously, the Narcotics Crime Directorate of the Criminal Investigation Directorate issued a wanted persons list (DPO) status for drug trafficker Erwin Iskandar, alias Ko Erwin. The issuance of Ko Erwin’s wanted person status was documented in letter DPO/23/II/RES.4.2./2026/Dittipidnarkoba, dated 21 February 2026.
“Erwin Iskandar bin Iskandar to be monitored/apprehended/surrendered/with his whereabouts reported to the investigator named AKBP Agung Prabowo, A.Md at the aforementioned Police Office,” the wanted persons letter states.
Erwin Iskandar is known to have residences at several locations, including Sumbawa, West Nusa Tenggara; Gowa, South Sulawesi; Ujung Tanah, South Sulawesi; and Makassar, South Sulawesi.
Ko Erwin stands 167 centimetres tall, weighs approximately 85 kilograms, and has a brown complexion.
Ko Erwin became a wanted person owing to his involvement in a narcotics case that implicated former Bima City Police Chief AKBP Didik Putra Kuncoro and former Head of Narcotics Unit at Bima City Police AKP Malaungi.
Ko Erwin allegedly provided 1 billion rupiah to AKBP Didik to enable methamphetamine distribution. The money was transferred by Ko Erwin to an account controlled by Malaungi.