Police Uncover Drug Syndicate in Samarinda's Gang Langgar, 13 Arrested
The Directorate of Narcotics Criminal Investigation (Dittipidnarkoba) of the Indonesian National Police’s Criminal Investigation Agency (Bareskrim Polri) successfully uncovered a drug trafficking syndicate operating in Gang Langgar, Samarinda, East Kalimantan, on Saturday, May 16th, 2026. In this operation, a joint team arrested 13 suspects who were part of a network that had been operating for four years.
The Director of Narcotics Criminal Investigation at Bareskrim Polri, Brigadier General Eko Hadi Santoso, confirmed that the arrests were carried out by a joint team from Sub-Directorate IV and the Narcotic Investigation Center (NIC) Task Force. This syndicate was known to be elusive and had previously evaded operations by local authorities.
“The drug syndicate operating in the ‘drug village’ of Gang Langgar, Samarinda City, was apprehended by a joint team from Sub-Directorate IV and the NIC Task Force of Dittipidnarkoba Bareskrim Polri,” said Eko Hadi Santoso, as reported by Antara on Saturday, May 16th.
Based on preliminary investigations, this syndicate had a very large turnover from its illicit activities. “The daily sales of drugs amounted to IDR 150-200 million,” revealed Hadi.
In addition to arresting 11 members of the syndicate, authorities also apprehended two drug users at the same location. Thus, a total of 13 people were arrested in this case.
The Head of Unit II of Sub-Directorate IV of Dittipidnarkoba Bareskrim Polri, Senior Commissioner Bayu Putra Samara, stated that the suspects have been taken to the Bareskrim Polri building in Jakarta for intensive questioning.
“This syndicate was quite elusive because several operations were carried out by local authorities, but they were unsuccessful,” said Bayu Putra Samara.
The police are currently conducting further investigations to uncover a wider network. Details regarding the evidence and the role of each suspect will be fully disclosed in an upcoming official statement by the Director of Narcotics Criminal Investigation at Bareskrim Polri. (Ant/Z-10)