Police Brigadier 'Sniper' in Samarinda Drug Den: Bareskrim Vows Process for All Involved
The Director of Narcotics Crimes at the Indonesian National Police Criminal Investigation Agency (Bareskrim Polri), Brigadier General Eko Hadi Santoso, has emphasised that the force will not protect any members implicated in drug cases, including Bripka Dedy Wiratama, who is suspected of involvement in a ‘drug village’ in Samarinda, East Kalimantan.
‘Bareskrim Polri will not be selective; anyone involved, including rogue police officers, will be processed according to applicable procedures,’ Eko stated on Monday (18/5/2026).
Bripka Dedy was previously placed on the most wanted list (DPO) for his role as a ‘sniper’—a lookout responsible for monitoring drug trafficking activities in the area. Eko confirmed that Dedy has since been apprehended by the Satbrimob of the East Kalimantan Regional Police.
According to Eko, Bripka Dedy is currently undergoing examination regarding violations of the Indonesian National Police professional code of ethics, following two separate urine tests that returned positive for narcotics.
‘The individual is currently being investigated regarding previous violations of the Police Professional Code of Ethics, specifically concerning his positive results for narcotics consumption after two separate urine tests,’ he said.
Eko added that once the ethics proceedings are concluded, Bripka Dedy will face criminal prosecution for narcotics offences by the Narcotics Crime Sub-directorate of Bareskrim Polri.
During the exposure of this case, a joint team from Subdit IV of the Bareskrim Narcotics Crime Sub-directorate and the NIC Task Force arrested a total of 13 suspects with various roles, ranging from kingpins and crystal methamphetamine sellers to couriers and ‘snipers’ or lookouts for the drug den.
In a single day, the sale of crystal methamphetamine at the location reached between 1,000 and 1,200 small packets, priced at Rp 150,000 per packet. During an undercover buy operation conducted at night, police discovered 31 ‘snipers’ stationed in various alleys to monitor the situation and signal the arrival of buyers or suspicious individuals entering the area.