The National Police Ensures That The Italian Mafia Sindikat Ndrangheta Is Not Operating In Indonesia

Speaking press in Badung Bali (Via ANTARA)

The National Police ensured that the Italian mafia syndicate Ndrangheta did not operate in Indonesia, even though one of its network members with the initials AS, who is a fugitive from Interpol (NCB Roma), was arrested in Bali in February 2023. International Relations Division official at the National Police Headquarters Kompol Anggaito Hadi Prabowo said that mafia syndicates carried out many actions in European countries. Meanwhile, in Indonesia, the National Police have not found any cases related to the criminal organization. "There are more “Ndrangheta in Europe, and they are not only narcotics, but also frauds, and other crimes that are very troubling there, but not to Indonesia," said Anggaito Hadi Prabowo during a press conference with Ngurah Rai Immigration officials, Bali Police, and the Bali Ministry of Law and Human Rights Regional Office, Antara, Sunday, February 19. Ndrangheta is a mafia syndicate that was formed in the late 18th century in Italy, precisely in the mountainous area of Calabria. Interpol data shows Ndrangheta is one of the largest and strongest mafia organizations in the world, which has representatives on every continent. Interpol has since 2020 launched multilateral actions to fight the mafia organization, one of which is through the I-CAN program, which is financed by the Italian Government. Meanwhile, regarding the role of the US in Ndrangheta's criminal activities, the Indonesian police have fully handed over to the police in Italy through NCB Roma. The National Police, through NCB Jakarta, received information that the US was a fugitive from Interpol after being involved in a 160 kilogram marijuana circulating case in Italy in 2014 involving four Ndrangheta members. “ US name appears when four members of Ndrangheta were caught in a marijuana sales case in 2014. The four people said the US was involved, but the person concerned had left Italy,” said Kompol Anggaito. The US has also been on the Interpol wanted list (Red Notice) since 2016 and its whereabouts have not been detected for approximately 7 years. However, in the first week of February, Immigration Ngurah Rai detected the presence of the US, which was transiting at I Gusti Ngurah Rai International Airport, Bali, Indonesia, on its way from Malaysia to Australia. The US claims to have dual citizenship, Italy and Australia, and in Kangaroo Country, it has a property business. This “ Subjek (US, ed.) was hit by HIT Alert when the person concerned entered the Ngurah Rai area. We (at Interpol, ed.) have an I-24/7 system that is integrated with all Interpol member countries, and is also integrated with the system at Indonesian Immigration,” said Anggaito. The Ngurah Rai Immigration party immediately reported the presence of the US through the WhatsApp group which consisted of members of the police and representatives from Interpol. “ From NCB Roma confirmed that his statement was needed in his country, because he had also entered the International Red Notice for alleged drug abuse (forbidden),” he said. The US has also been in prison in Bali for more than 2 weeks. He received tight security from the police, namely from the Bali Police and the Divhubinter Police Headquarters. Head of the Ngurah Rai Immigration Office Sugito at the same press conference session announced that the US would immediately be handed over to the police in Italy via NCB Roma on Sunday. He was closely guarded by three policemen from Indonesia along the journey from I Gusti Ngurah Rai International Airport, Bali, to Italy. Two policemen escorted the US from the Bali Police, and one other member from the Divhubinter Police Headquarters. “ Here the National Police Divhubinter coordinates with NCB Roma with a police-to-police system. The US return is fully supported (especially regarding travel costs, ed.) by the Italian Government through NCB Roma,” said Kompol Anggaito who also represented NCB Jakarta.