BNN arrests drug kingpin MR, alias Bos Gendut, in Jakarta

The Indonesian National Narcotics Agency (BNN) has arrested a major drug suspect identified as MR, also known as ‘Bos Gendut,’ who was wanted in connection with a 98-kilogram methamphetamine case. The arrest took place on Wednesday night, August 12, 2026, at a beauty salon in the Mangga Besar area of West Jakarta, after authorities tracked his movements from Kampung Bahari in North Jakarta.

During the operation and subsequent investigation, authorities seized significant assets and evidence, including approximately Rp39.95 billion in cash and assets, gold bars, firearms, ammunition, and weapons such as a samurai sword. The BNN is also pursuing money laundering charges related to the suspect’s activities.

The operation in Kampung Bahari faced resistance from local groups, who reportedly threw stones and firecrackers at officers, necessitating the use of tear gas to disperse the crowd. The arrest of MR has drawn renewed attention to international drug networks, including connections to the Golden Triangle and figures like Dewi Astutik, who is allegedly linked to large-scale methamphetamine smuggling across Asia and Africa.