TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Dewi Astutik, a fugitive in the case of drug smuggling involving 2 tons of methamphetamine (meth) in the Riau Islands, has been arrested in Cambodia.
"True," said Brigadier General Untung Widyatmoko, Secretary of NCB Interpol Indonesia, Indonesian Police's International Relations Department (Divhubinter Polri), when confirmed by Tempo on Tuesday, December 2, 2025. But he could not explain in more detail about the arrest of the drug lord.
The 43-year-old woman from Ponorogo, East Java, is known to have been living abroad for a long while. She is suspected of bearing the status of an Indonesian Migrant Worker since 2011. The police had previously detected the whereabouts of Dewi Astutik, also known as Paryatin, in Cambodia.
Prior to this, the drug smuggling network was successfully dismantled by the Narcotics Investigation Task Force, consisting of BNN, TNI, Customs, and the Police in May 2025. The methamphetamine was smuggled using a motorboat from Thailand to the waters of the Riau Islands.
The then head of the National Narcotics Agency (BNN), Commissioner General Marthinus Hukom, said the two tons of drugs that were smuggled were planned to be distributed across Southeast Asia.
"It is suspected that it will be distributed to several countries, including Indonesia, Malaysia, and the Philippines," said Hukom.
Hukom has since retired and was replaced by Inspector General (Irjen) Suyudi Ario Seto since August 25, 2025.
The drug ring was discovered after a 5-month investigation, before the police raided the Sea Dragon Terawa vessel in May 2025. The ship was brought to the Customs Dock at Tanjung Uncang Port. As a result, 67 boxes containing 2,000 packs of methamphetamine weighing 2,115,130 grams or 2 tons were found.
The police then arrested six crew members consisting of 4 Indonesian nationals and 2 foreigners. They are Fandi Ramdani, Leo Chandra Samosir, Richard Halomoan, Hasiloan Samosir, Weerapat Phong Wan, and Teerapong Lekpradube.
Based on the investigation, Dewi Astutik's name was revealed, the suspected kingpin behind the drug smuggling. "In our analysis, Dewi Astutik is connected to the five smugglers who were arrested on the ship," said Hukom during a press conference on Monday, May 26, 2025.
Dewi Astutik has also been put on an Interpol red notice in relation to the 2-ton methamphetamine smuggling case. She is reportedly operating in the Golden Triangle area, which is known as the center of the Southeast Asian drug network, covering the borders of Thailand, Myanmar, and Laos. Based on the analysis of the international network, Dewi is an Indonesian citizen who is part of a drug syndicate from Africa.
Yogi Eka Sahputra contributed to this article
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