Trader from PPU Arrested by Long Kali Police for Allegedly Dealing Methamphetamine
A trader with the initials EW, 33, a resident of Babulu Darat village in Babulu subdistrict, Penajam Paser Utara (PPU) district, East Kalimantan, has been apprehended by officers from the Long Kali police precinct. He was arrested on suspicion of moonlighting as a dealer of Class I narcotics in the form of crystal methamphetamine within the jurisdiction of Paser district.
Paser district police chief Adjunct Grand Commissioner Sofyan, through Long Kali police chief Adjunct Commissioner Andi Kasman, accompanied by head of public relations Inspector Iwan Suhariyanto, explained that the disclosure was part of the series of Operation Antik Mahakam 2026.
“As a result, the Long Kali police precinct again apprehended a suspect with the initials EW, who is a resident of PPU,” said Andi Kasman to Media Indonesia on Tuesday (28 July 2026).
The arrest of EW took place on Monday, 27 July 2026, at around 13.35 Central Indonesian Time. Police moved quickly after receiving reports from residents alarmed by the prevalence of narcotics transactions in Pinang Jatus village, Long Kali subdistrict, Paser district.
Following up on this information, the criminal investigation team of the Long Kali police precinct conducted a discreet in-depth investigation from Sunday (26 July). The operation culminated on Monday afternoon, when the Long Kali police chief personally led an ambush, intercepting a pickup truck driven by the suspect on a village road in Pinang Jatus.
“The arrest and search were witnessed directly by local residents and the neighbourhood association chairman. Officers searched the suspect’s body and the four-wheeled vehicle, a Daihatsu Grand Max Pick Up driven by EW,” Andi explained.
The search revealed a number of items of evidence. The crystal methamphetamine was found neatly concealed inside cigarette packets of various brands and in the pockets of the suspect’s trousers.
The suspect and the evidence are currently being held at the Long Kali police precinct for investigation and further case development. EW has been charged under multiple articles, namely Article 114 paragraph (1) in conjunction with Article 132 paragraph (1) of Law Number 35/2009 on Narcotics in conjunction with Law Number 1/2023 on the Criminal Code.
“Operation Antik Mahakam 2026 is a form of the police’s firm commitment to eradicating the illicit drug trade down to its roots in order to protect the nation’s generation, particularly within the jurisdiction of the East Kalimantan regional police,” Andi concluded. (I-2)
In the search witnessed by the local neighbourhood association chairman, officers secured the suspect along with 20 clipped plastic packets containing clear white crystalline powder suspected to be crystal methamphetamine.