Police Continue to Unravel Fredy Pratama's Network, Even into Malaysia

The Indonesian National Police (Polri) continue to hunt drug kingpin Fredy Pratama and his network. Most recently, the Criminal Investigation Department (Bareskrim) Polri arrested Fredy Pratama’s subordinate, Frans Antony, in Malaysia.

“That’s correct (Frans Antony),” said Brigadier General Eko Hadi Santoso, Director of Narcotics Crime at Bareskrim Polri, when confirmed on Friday (19/6/2026).

Frans was subsequently flown from Malaysia to Jakarta. Eko also revealed Frans’ role in Fredy Pratama’s narcotics syndicate.

For context, Fredy Pratama is a drug lord controlling 10.2 tonnes of methamphetamine in Indonesia, known by the aliases ‘The Secret’ and ‘The Cassanova’. He began his involvement in narcotics in 2009.

Fredy Pratama is claimed to be the sole importer of yaba, methamphetamine in pill form originating from Thailand. He fled to Thailand in 2014 and has been pursued ever since.

Fredy Pratama is known to have undergone plastic surgery several times to evade law enforcement. He also married a Thai woman. His father-in-law is a boss of a drug cartel in the Golden Triangle region, referring to the Southeast Asian narcotics hub spanning parts of Myanmar, China, Laos, and Thailand.

Fredy Pratama is known to control his network from Thailand. He reportedly has a network operating in 14 provinces, including North Sumatra, Riau, Lampung, Banten, DKI Jakarta, West Java, Central Java, East Java, Yogyakarta, West Kalimantan, Central Kalimantan, South Kalimantan, South Sulawesi, and Southeast Sulawesi, with illicit money turnover reaching tens of trillions of rupiah.

The difficulty in capturing Fredy Pratama, according to police, stems from two factors. First, Fredy frequently disguises both his identity and appearance. The second factor is the suspected presence of parties protecting him.

Nevertheless, police have arrested several of Fredy’s subordinates. The latest figure apprehended is Frans, who acted as the financial controller of Fredy’s network.

Brigadier General Eko stated that Frans was the financial controller of Fredy’s network. Frans is also suspected of arranging the narcotics supply for Fredy’s network in Indonesia.

“Frans Antony is not an ordinary perpetrator, but rather the financial controller, field controller, and operational controller of the narcotics syndicate led by Freddy Pratama,” said Brigadier General Eko.

“Frans Antony is also strongly suspected of assisting Fredy Pratama in drug trafficking in Indonesia,” he continued.

Eko suspects the narcotics distributed by Frans originated from Malaysia and Thailand. The illicit goods entered Indonesia via illegal routes.

“These narcotics are strongly suspected to have entered from Malaysia and Thailand through illegal sea and land routes,” said Eko.

The quantity of narcotics distributed by Frans was staggering. Each month, the drugs shipped could reach up to 500 kg.

“Every month, this syndicate is capable of smuggling all types of narcotics in quantities ranging from 100 kg to 500 kg,” he concluded.

Frans Antony and Fredy Pratama were high school friends in South Kalimantan (Kalsel). Fredy Pratama started his illicit business in Malang, East Java.

“Frans Antony is Fredy Pratama’s closest associate and they attended the same high school in Kalsel. Fredy initiated and controlled the early narcotics network from Malang,” he added.

Brigadier General Eko stated that Frans frequently moved locations during his flight in Thailand. He said Frans last resided in Narasiri for two years.

“Frans Antony fled by moving from place to place in Thailand,” said Eko.

Eko said Frans was allegedly assisted in moving by an envoy of Fredy Pratama. According to him, Fredy’s envoy is a Thai national.

“During his flight, Frans Antony was assisted by an envoy of Freddy Pratama who is a Thai national. Frans Antony moved several times, starting from the Phatthanakan area until finally settling for approximately two years in the Narasiri area, Thailand,” said Eko.

Frans’ flight ended in Malaysia on Thursday (18/6). Eko said Frans entered Malaysian territory illegally.

“Frans Antoni was also assisted by an envoy of Fredy Pratama when entering Malaysian territory illegally before finally being secured by the Polri delegation team in Kuala Lumpur,” he stated.

Eko mentioned that Fredy’s network disguised the proceeds of crime through currency exchange at money changers. Typically, he said, the syndicate exchanged SGD 1,000 denomination notes.

“The money from narcotics sales was then collected and transported directly by Frans Antony,” said Eko.

This method is considered the primary loophole for disguising illicit money before it is taken abroad. Police suspect the transport of money from Indonesia to Thailand was arranged by Frans routinely and structurally for seven years.

The money transfers were allegedly conducted two to three times each month from 2017 to 2023. The total number of transports reached 168 times.

“He acted as the courier and chief supervisor to ensure the funds arrived safely in the hands of the syndicate leader,” he said.

Police suspect the minimum amount of money sent from Indonesia to Thailand in a single transport reached Rp 1 billion in SGD 1,000 notes. Police suspect Frans received cash proceeds from narcotics sales from KI alias Uncle on two occasions, totalling SGD 1.2 million.

The handovers occurred on 4 November 2019 and 31 August 2020. These cash receipts are suspected to have strengthened Frans’ position as the treasurer of Fredy Pratama’s syndicate.

Frans is also suspected of controlling three bank accounts under his biological sister’s name. These accounts were allegedly used to hold the money.

Frans has now arrived at Bareskrim Polri. Eko affirmed that his party continues to pursue Fredy Pratama.

“The investigation will focus on uncovering the entire flow of funds and support networks, including efforts to pursue the red notice subject named Fredy Pratama,” he stated.