Police Dismantle Ecstasy Trafficking Ring at New Star Club in Denpasar
Indonesia’s Criminal Investigation Directorate (Bareskrim) of the National Police has dismantled a narcotics trafficking operation involving ecstasy at New Star Club, a nightlife establishment in Denpasar, Bali. Three individuals have been designated as suspects, including members of the club’s management.
Brigadier General Eko Hadi Santoso, Director of Narcotics Crime at Bareskrim, stated that the operation was initiated following a public report concerning alleged drug transactions that had been occurring at the location for an extended period.
Based on this information, a joint team led by Senior Assistant Commissioner Handik Zusen of Bareskrim’s Narcotics Crime Division and the Narcotics Intelligence Command task force led by Senior Assistant Commissioner Kevin Leleury conducted an investigation into the illegal substance distribution.
“The team obtained information about ecstasy trafficking at a nightclub in Denpasar, which was suspected to have been ongoing for some time,” Eko stated on Tuesday, 17 March 2026.
The operation was conducted at New Star Club in the early hours of Sunday, 15 March 2026. Police first went undercover as patrons and booked a VIP karaoke room.
“The team posed as visitors and booked a VIP room, then conducted an undercover purchase of 12 ecstasy tablets,” he explained.
From the operation, police apprehended a room captain named Muhammad Rokip. Officers found 38 pink LV-branded ecstasy tablets on the suspect. Police subsequently expanded their search and discovered hundreds of additional ecstasy tablets hidden in the suspect’s motorcycle seat. “From the further search, approximately 600 ecstasy tablets were discovered stored in the vehicle,” Eko clarified.
Police then apprehended a waiter named I Gusti Bagus Adi Pramana and club manager I Wayan Subawa. Investigations revealed that the narcotics distribution was controlled by an individual with the initials Opik and associates, who are now on the wanted persons list.
It was found that Opik and his group were not official staff of the club. However, they frequently remained in the parking area whilst distributing narcotics to club visitors.
Eko explained that the drug distribution operated on a “point placement” system. The illegal substances were placed at specific locations in the car park, then retrieved by operatives for distribution to customers.
“The narcotics were delivered by couriers who always wore helmets and masks, then placed in the car park. Subsequently, they were retrieved for distribution to customers, with sales proceeds returned using the same system,” he stated.
In this operation, field operatives earned approximately 70,000 rupiah per tablet, whilst the club management was also suspected of receiving a share of the sales proceeds.
In a single day, I Wayan Subawa and his four associates on the wanted list could earn a combined 400,000 to 600,000 rupiah.
In addition to arresting the suspects, police apprehended 43 club visitors during the raid. They comprised 28 men and 15 women.
From preliminary examinations, 37 individuals tested positive for narcotics use. “All apprehended visitors have been taken to the Bali Provincial Narcotics Agency for further examination and assessment to determine their respective roles,” Eko stated.
Bareskrim concluded that narcotics distribution at the nightclub was conducted in a structured manner, exploiting the club’s facilities.
“From the investigation, it was determined that narcotics trafficking was carried out systematically and involved individuals within the operational structure,” Eko emphasised.
The agency is continuing its investigation to apprehend other wanted suspects and to trace financial flows allegedly connected to money laundering offences.
Meanwhile, Senior Assistant Commissioner Ariasandy, Head of Public Affairs at the Bali Regional Police, stated that Bali Police personnel did not participate in the enforcement operation conducted by Bareskrim.
“We were not involved in the operation; please ask Bareskrim for complete information,” he said when contacted on Tuesday, 17 March 2026.