South Kalimantan Police Uncover Drug Network Linked to Fredy Pratama, Seize 30 Kg of Methamphetamine and 15,000 Ecstasy Pills
The Narcotics Directorate of the South Kalimantan Regional Police (Polda Kalsel) has uncovered the smuggling of nearly 30 kilogrammes of methamphetamine and 15,056 ecstasy pills from a network affiliated with international narcotics kingpin Fredy Pratama.
“The 29,944.33 grammes of methamphetamine and 15,056 ecstasy pills were originally transported from West Kalimantan to Palangka Raya, with Banjarmasin as the final destination,” said South Kalimantan Police Chief Inspector General Rosyanto Yudha Hermawan during a press conference at the South Kalimantan Police Headquarters in Banjarbaru on Tuesday.
The dealer who carried the large quantity of narcotics has been identified by the initials IW, a native of Banten.
According to his statement to officers, IW was ordered to collect the illicit goods in Palangka Raya, Central Kalimantan, for delivery to Banjarmasin.
After a lengthy investigation, suspect IW was arrested on Friday, 20 February, upon his arrival at Hotel Midoo on Jalan AES Nasution in Banjarmasin.
The tens of kilogrammes of methamphetamine and thousands of ecstasy pills, estimated to be worth Rp69 billion on the black market, were carried in two large rucksacks.
The Police Chief said that uncovering narcotics smuggling operations is no easy task, as the modus operandi constantly changes in an effort to evade law enforcement.
Nevertheless, the Police Chief urged officers to remain committed to their work in order to protect the nation’s younger generation from the dangers of drug abuse.
Meanwhile, South Kalimantan Narcotics Directorate Head Senior Commissioner Baktiar Joko Mujiono said the operation was carried out by a team led by Sub-Directorate 3 Head of the South Kalimantan Narcotics Directorate, Adjunct Senior Commissioner Ade Harri Sistriawan.
The team had previously received intelligence from the public regarding movements by Fredy Pratama’s network to supply narcotics to South Kalimantan.
An investigation was subsequently conducted, ultimately revealing that the drugs were being transported by a man from Palangka Raya for distribution in Banjarmasin.
Based on the evidence, suspect IW has been charged under Article 114 paragraph (2) of Law Number 35 of 2009 on Narcotics in conjunction with Law Number 1 of 2026 on Criminal Sentencing Adjustments, and/or Article 609 paragraph (2) letter (a) of Law Number 1 of 2023 on the Criminal Code in conjunction with Law Number 1 of 2026 on Criminal Sentencing Adjustments.