Jakarta – Brig. Gen. Sentot Prasetyo was inaugurated as the new head of the National Police's counterterrorism unit, Detachment 88, on Thursday, amid ongoing efforts to combat militant networks.

Sentot, formerly the deputy head of Detachment 88, has now assumed command, succeeding Insp. Gen. Marthinus Hukom, who has taken on a new role as the head of the National Narcotics Agency (BNN).

Simultaneously, police authorities revealed the arrest of nine suspected militants in coordinated operations across Central Java province.

According to National Police spokesman Ahmad Ramadhan, these individuals are suspected of having affiliations with the shadowy militant organization Jemaah Islamiyah. The arrests took place in Sukoharjo, Sragen, Klaten, and Boyolali, conducted by Detachment 88 earlier in the day.

Ahmad said that firearms, ammunition, and crossbows were seized from the suspects, though specific details or identities were not disclosed, identifying them solely by initials.

The inauguration ceremony at the National Police headquarters in South Jakarta also welcomed Brig. Gen. Aan Suhanan as the new head of the Police Traffic Corps (Korlantas).

Furthermore, National Police Chief Listyo Sigit Prabowo appointed new provincial police chiefs, including Johnny Eddizon Isir for West Papua, Andi Rian Djajadi for South Sulawesi, Winarto for South Kalimantan, Daniel Tahi Monang Silitonga for East Nusa Tenggara, and Yan Fitri Halimansyah for Riau Islands.

Source: https://jakartaglobe.id/news/new-commander-appointed-to-counterterrorism-squad-detachment-8