inp.polri.go.id - Jakarta. The Indonesian National Police (INP) Drugs Criminal Investigation Directorate arrested Australian drug cartel member, Angelo Pandeli, as he was about to board a private jet at the VIP South Terminal of I Gusti Ngurah Rai International Airport, Bali.
"This arrest demonstrates the strong commitment of Indonesian law enforcement officials to supporting international cooperation to eradicate transnational drugs crime," explained the Director of Drugs Criminal Investigation of INP, Brigadier General Eko Hadi Santoso, in a statement on Thursday (6/11/2026).
He explained that Angelo's whereabouts, as a most wanted fugitive, were discovered thanks to information from the Australian Federal Police (AFP) and the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA). The information also indicated that he was traveling on CAPA JET private jet flight N917CJ from Denpasar to Maputo, Mozambique.
"We will not give international organized crime perpetrators the opportunity to use Indonesia as a transit or escape route," said Eko.
During the investigation, officers discovered that Angelo was using fake documents identifying himself as George Anderson Mota Correia, a Brazilian citizen.
However, based on checks through an international network, Angelo Pandeli's name was detected on an Interpol Blue Notice with a 100 percent match.
"Officers then conducted further investigations and found the man hiding in the airplane toilet during the inspection process. In addition to apprehending Angelo Pandeli, officers also confiscated several pieces of evidence, including a cell phone, identity cards, bank cards, passports for several different identities, a SIM card, and US$600 in cash," Eko noted.
According to Eko, the discovery of several different travel and identity documents is a crucial part of the investigation, which investigators are currently continuing to develop.
Based on information received by international law enforcement officials, Angelo is suspected of playing a key role in controlling the shipment of narcotics precursors to Australia and is considered a prominent figure in transnational organized crime.
Intelligence also indicates that he is suspected of having ties to the Hells Angels outlaw motorcycle group and is believed to be involved in several large-scale narcotics smuggling cases into Australia.
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