Indonesian police arrest 2 Malaysian drug ring fugitives, seize $9.4 million in narcotics

Indonesian police have captured two fugitives involved in a Malaysia-Indonesia drug network in Riau province. Brig. Gen. Eko Hadi Santoso of the National Police's Narcotics Crime Directorate announced the arrests of Indra Bayu and Solihin in Bengkalis.

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The perpetrators fled by jumping into the sea and entering the mangrove forest area, leaving behind one speedboat and two black boxes suspected of containing narcotics.

The operation began on May 18, 2026, when police received information about a planned drug smuggling via sea from Malaysia. A pursuit of a suspicious speedboat ensued, but the suspects escaped by jumping into the water and disappearing into mangrove forests, abandoning a speedboat and two black boxes believed to contain narcotics.

Further investigation led to Indra Bayu's arrest on June 15, 2026, at his parents' home. He then provided information about Solihin, who acted as a boat rental intermediary for the smuggling operation and received 10 million Rupiah for his role. Indra Bayu confessed that the operation was controlled by an individual named Atuk Ham, who promised a 100 million Rupiah payment.

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Around early May 2026, Nabil invited Indra Bayu to pick up 45 packages of methamphetamine from Malaysia. Because he couldn't operate the speedboat, he suggested involving Erwin as the captain.

The seized evidence includes 48 kilograms of crystal methamphetamine, 15 kilograms of ketamine, and 20,000 ecstasy pills, with an estimated total value of 137.48 billion Rupiah (approximately $9.4 million). Police are actively pursuing four other wanted individuals, identified as Erwin and Nabil (couriers), Atuk Ham (Indonesian controller), and WAN (Malaysian controller).

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All smuggling operations were controlled by a figure named Atuk Ham, who promised a payment of 100 million Rupiah.