Police Arrest Indonesia's Drug Cartel Fugitive in the Philippines

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The National Narcotics Agency (BNN) together with the Indonesian National Police's International Relations Division and the Philippine police have arrested a Mexican drug cartel fugitive, Gregor Johann Haas. The Australian national who is suspected of frequently smuggling drugs in Asia was arrested in Cebu, Philippines, on Wednesday, May 15, 2024.

Head of the BNN Public Relations and Protocol Bureau, Brigadier General Sulistyo Pudjo Hartono, explained that Gregor is still detained in the Philippines. However, the man will soon be extradited to Indonesia. "To take responsibility for his actions and reveal the (drug) network in Indonesia," he said when met at the BNN Office, Cawang, East Jakarta on Thursday.

BNN is coordinating with related authorities, namely the Philippines’ law enforcement officials and the Indonesian Embassy in the Phillippines to bring Haas to Indonesia. "Soon we will take the person concerned to Indonesia," he said.

From information obtained by Tempo, Gregor Johann Haas has a fake Spanish alias named Fernando Tremendo Chimenea. The man claimed to be born on November 18, 1988; while Gregor Johann Haas was born on March 23, 1978. 

In Indonesia, Haas resided in Gili Trawangan, North Lombok. His drug smuggling case in Indonesia was discovered on December 5, 2023, with evidence of 5 kilograms of crystal methamphetamine. Pudjo said his side was still investigating Haas' drug network outside of Indonesia. , 

"But we cannot reveal the information to the public yet as it involves (drug) networks not only in Indonesia but also in other places such as the (suspect’s) country of origin and where he was arrested," he said.

HAN REVANDA PUTRA

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