The Flight of Frans Antoni, Treasurer to Drug Kingpin Fredy Pratama

The Criminal Investigation Agency (Bareskrim) of the Indonesian National Police has arrested Frans Antoni, the treasurer for international drug kingpin Fredy Pratama, in Malaysia. The Director of Drug Crimes at Bareskrim, Brigadier General Eko Hadi Santoso, revealed the escape trail of Antoni, who was on the wanted list prior to his capture. He explained that after Fredy Pratama’s accomplices were secured by police, Frans Antoni fled by moving from place to place in Thailand. During his flight, Antoni was assisted by an associate of Fredy’s who is a Thai national. “Frans Antoni moved around starting from the Phatthanakan area until he finally settled for approximately two years in the Narasiri area of Thailand,” Eko told reporters on Friday (19/6). He stated that Antoni was also assisted by Fredy’s associate when entering Malaysian territory illegally before finally being apprehended by a delegation team from the Indonesian National Police in Kuala Lumpur. “Frans Antoni is not an ordinary perpetrator, but the financial controller, field controller, and operational controller of the narcotics syndicate led by Fredy Pratama,” he said. Meanwhile, Fredy remains a fugitive and is suspected of hiding abroad. He is said to frequently change locations, including in areas of Thailand and Cambodia. The figure known as Fredy, alias Miming, alias Cassanova, is said to wield strong influence in the Southeast Asian region, particularly the golden triangle, which is known as one of the world’s largest narcotics trading hubs. Previously, Bareskrim had seized a total of 10.2 tonnes of methamphetamine affiliated with the Fredy Pratama network in Indonesia during the 2020-2023 period. Fredy is described as one of the largest narcotics distribution syndicates in Indonesia. Analysis by the Directorate of Drug Crimes found that the majority of narcotics in Indonesia are affiliated with Fredy’s network. Each month, Fredy’s syndicate reportedly smuggles methamphetamine and ecstasy into Indonesia in quantities ranging from 100 kg to 500 kg, using a modus operandi of disguising the methamphetamine in tea packaging.