After 13 days on the run, Interpol fugitive from Russia Andrew Ayer, alias Andrei Kovalenka, and his accomplice, Ekaterina Trubkina, were arrested by a joint team from Bali Police and Immigration at a villa in North Kuta, Badung, Wednesday morning (24/2).
The 33-year-old man from Russia was captured after escaping from the Class 1 Immigration detention at Ngurah Rai, last Thursday (11/2). He was being detained after officers received a Red Notice from Interpol indicating that Andrei had some unfinished business in regards to a narcotics case back in Russia.
Bali officers were instructed by Interpol Russia to look after the fugitive until they arrive to pick him up, but before that could happen, he managed to escape with the help of his girlfriend.
Bali police frantically searched the premises to no avail, until 13 days later. Wanted posters of the fugitive helped lead officers to a villa in North Kuta.
An anonymous informant contacted officers after he spotted the escapees in the North Kuta area. Police began their operation by searching Canggu on Tuesday evening (23/2).
The search pointed officers to a villa on Jalan Bumbak in North Kuta, however, once they arrived, it was too late. They were told that the couple had moved. Further investigation took officers to a villa in Umalas, North Kuta.
The Head of Ngurah Rai Immigration Office Class I, Eko Budianto said that Andrei was finally arrested at the villa in Jalan Umalas. The couple had been on the move to avoid getting caught.
“Officers finally arrested them from a villa on Jalan Umalas on Wednesday,” Budinato added.
“We had been supervising all the borders to assure that they would not be able to leave the island,” Budinato said during a press conference at the Immigration Office on Wednesday afternoon (24/2).
Accordingly, an officer from the Criminal Investigation Bureau of Bali Police Department, Kombes Djuhandhani Rahardjo Puro confirmed that his unit found and arrested the Russian fugitive.
“The couple was arrested without resistance and are now being detained inside the Immigration detention cell,” Kombes Rahardjo Puro concluded.
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Pan Demi
Friday 26th of February 2021
seems that there are more and more incidents in Bali involving expats. Bali is no longer a place to travel for a vacation, but as an alternative place to live and do activities legally even illegally.
Wayan Bo
Thursday 25th of February 2021
Main and most known Russian narcotic is Vodka.