String of Police Officers Ensnared in Drug Cases, from Regional Chiefs to Unit Heads

The Head of the Narcotics Unit at North Toraja Police (Polres), Adjunct Commissioner of Police (AKP) Arifan Efendi, along with a personnel member identified by the initial N who served as a unit chief, has been arrested in connection with a drug trafficking case in North Toraja Regency, South Sulawesi.

The case began when a man identified as ET alias O was apprehended by Tana Toraja Police personnel in possession of 100 grammes of methamphetamine. During questioning, ET named rogue officers at the North Toraja Police who had been receiving payments of Rp 13 million per week since September 2025.

Arifan’s arrest adds to a growing list of police officers ensnared in drug cases across Indonesia.

The following are several other cases involving members of the Indonesian National Police (Polri) in drug-related offences:

Former Bima City Police Chief Case

Prior to Arifan’s arrest, former Bima City Police Chief Senior Adjunct Commissioner of Police (AKBP) Didik Putra was named a suspect in drug abuse by the National Police Criminal Investigation Agency (Bareskrim). Didik was also handed a dishonourable discharge from the police force and immediately detained at the Bareskrim detention facility.

Didik was found guilty of possessing a white suitcase containing drugs that had been entrusted to First Police Officer Dianita in Tangerang, Banten.

The drug evidence recovered included 16.3 grammes of methamphetamine, 49 ecstasy tablets and 2 partially used tablets (23.5 grammes), 19 Alprazolam tablets, 2 Happy Five tablets, and 5 grammes of ketamine. Didik was alleged to have received proceeds from drug crimes from two separate drug lords.

Deputy Director III of the Narcotics Crime Directorate at Bareskrim, Commissioner Zulkarnain Harahap, explained that Didik, together with former Narcotics Unit Chief of Bima City Police AKP Malaungi, had received payouts from a drug lord identified as ‘B’.

Zulkarnain stated that both officers received monthly payments of Rp 400 million, with Rp 300 million allocated to Didik and the remainder to Malaungi.

Beyond receiving money, Didik also tested positive for drug consumption based on hair follicle drug test results conducted at a laboratory.

Furthermore, Didik was also designated a suspect for receiving proceeds from drug crimes. This suspect designation was made by the West Nusa Tenggara Regional Police Narcotics Directorate on Monday (16 February).

For his actions, Didik was charged under Article 114 paragraph (2) in conjunction with Article 132 paragraph (2) or Article 137 Letter A of Law Number 35 of 2009 concerning Narcotics, carrying penalties of death, life imprisonment, or a maximum of 20 years’ imprisonment.

In the wake of Didik’s case, National Police Chief General Listyo Sigit Prabowo ordered the Professional and Security Division (Propam) to conduct urine tests on all members of the police force.

“Based on the Police Chief’s orders, the Propam Division and its ranks will carry out urine examination activities,” said Head of Public Information Bureau of the Public Relations Division, Brigadier General Trunoyudo Wisnu Andiko, to reporters on Friday (20 February).

Trunoyudo stated that the urine tests would be conducted simultaneously at all levels, both at National Police Headquarters and across regional police commands.

Star-Ranked General Teddy Minahasa Case

Well before the two officers mentioned above, a drug trafficking case also ensnared former West Sumatra Regional Police Chief Inspector General Teddy Minahasa in 2023.

He was named a suspect just days after being entrusted with the position of East Java Regional Police Chief. At that time, he had not yet undergone the handover ceremony at National Police Headquarters, meaning Teddy had not yet officially assumed the East Java post.

For the drug trafficking case, Teddy Minahasa was dismissed from the National Police. The decision was taken by the Professional Code of Ethics Commission (KKEP) Appeals Team on Friday (4 August).

The criminal offence also involved other police officers, namely Bukittinggi Police Chief AKBP Dody Prawiranegara, Kali Baru Subdistrict Police Chief in North Jakarta Commissioner of Police Kasranto, and First Police Officer Janto Parluhutan Situmorang.

Teddy had ordered Dody to set aside seized methamphetamine evidence from the Bukittinggi Police Narcotics Unit. Beyond setting aside the methamphetamine, Teddy also instructed AKBP Dody to replace five kilogrammes of methamphetamine with alum and hand it over to Linda Pujiastuti.

The West Jakarta District Court sentenced Teddy to life imprisonment. Teddy filed an appeal with the Jakarta High Court.

The Jakarta High Court upheld the West Jakarta District Court’s verdict sentencing Teddy to life imprisonment. Not stopping there, Teddy also filed a cassation appeal to the Supreme Court. However, the court’s verdict remained unchanged.

AKP Andri Gustami

Former Narcotics Unit Chief of South Lampung Police AKP Andri Gustami was sentenced to death by the panel of judges at Tanjungkarang District Court in Bandarlampung on Thursday (29 February).

The defendant served as a courier for the international drug network of Fredy Pratama and was proven to have facilitated the passage of 150 kilogrammes of methamphetamine through Bakauheni Port in South Lampung.

In the sentencing hearing, Presiding Judge Lingga Setiawan declared that the defendant Andri Gustami was lawfully and convincingly proven to have violated Article 114 paragraph (2) in conjunction with Article 132 paragraph (1) of Law Number 35 of 2009 concerning Narcotics.

The public prosecutors charged that Andri Gustami had facilitated the passage of 150 kilogrammes of methamphetamine and 2,000 ecstasy tablets through Bakauheni Port in South Lampung between May and June 2023.

From his illicit business of facilitating the passage of illegal drugs, the defendant received payments exceeding Rp 1.2 billion.