Suspected drug trafficker Koko Erwin brought to police headquarters following arrest in North Sumatra

Jakarta – A suspected drug trafficker named Erwin, also known as Koko Erwin, has been brought to the National Police Directorate of Drug Crime (Bareskrim Polri) headquarters in Jakarta following his arrest in Tanjung Balai, North Sumatra, on Thursday, 26 February, as he attempted to cross into Malaysia.

“He is now at the Bareskrim Polri headquarters,” said Brigadier General Eko Hadi Santoso, Director of Drug Crime at Bareskrim Polri, in Jakarta on Friday.

Erwin is listed as a wanted person (DPO) on suspicion of involvement in narcotics trafficking and of offering bribes worth billions of rupiah to former Bima City Police Chief, Senior Commissioner Didik Putra Kuncoro.

According to video footage received by ANTARA, Erwin, wearing a light grey shirt, was seen walking with a limp and requiring a wheelchair as he was led by officers. His hands were bound with cable ties and he remained silent throughout the process.

Regarding Erwin’s leg injury, separately, Sub-director IV of the Drug Crime Directorate at Bareskrim Polri, Senior Commissioner Handik Zusen, stated that officers were forced to fire shots because the suspect resisted during arrest.

“(It was because of) an attempted escape and resistance during the arrest,” he said.

Earlier, Head of the National Intelligence Council’s Drug Crime Task Force at Bareskrim Polri, Senior Commissioner Kevin Leleury, stated that Erwin was arrested whilst preparing to cross into Malaysia by boat. He explained that during the arrest operation, officers also apprehended two other suspected accomplices, identified as A alias Y and R alias K.

These two individuals, according to Kevin, played a role in assisting Erwin to flee to Malaysia to evade police arrest. “Suspect A alias Y was arrested in Riau, whilst R alias K was arrested in Tanjung Balai together with Erwin,” he said.

He revealed that when detected, the suspected primary drug supplier had planned to flee overseas, as he had made preparations for his escape. When arrested, the suspect attempted to resist, but officers ultimately succeeded in apprehending him.