Latest news with #BaliPolice
Euronews
4 days ago
- Euronews
Australian man arrested for allegedly smuggling cocaine into Bali
Authorities in Indonesia have arrested an Australian man for allegedly smuggling cocaine on the tourist island of Bali, a charge that could carry the death penalty, officials have said. Lamar Aaron Ahchee, 43, from Cairns in north Queensland, was arrested last Thursday after police raided his rented house near Kuta beach, a popular tourist spot, and seized 1.7 kilograms of cocaine in 206 plastic bags, along with a digital scale and a mobile phone, Bali Police Chief Daniel Adityajaya said. The arrest followed an investigation conducted by Bali Police anti-drug surveillance teams who reported the man had received two suspicious packages sent by mail from England, Adityajaya said. "He is suspected of importing or distributing class one narcotics," Adityajaya said at a news conference in the provincial capital, Denpasar. "He is threatened with the death penalty or life imprisonment." Adityajaya said a preliminary investigation showed that the Australian had ordered a motorcycle taxi driver through the Grab online service on 21 May to pick up two packages at a post office in Denpasar. The driver was told to hand the two packages to a motorcycle taxi driver from another online service, who was ordered to deliver them to Ahchee's rented house, Adityajaya said. Adityajaya said the suspect told authorities during a police interrogation that he was asked by someone he referred to as "Boss," to take the package and distribute it in Bali. He was promised 50 million rupiah (€2,660) for handling the cocaine. On Monday, police presented the accused at the news conference where he was wearing an orange detainee jumpsuit and a mask, with his hands handcuffed. The man did not make a statement. One of his lawyers, Edward Pangkahila, said his team would accompany his client during the police questioning "to see the progress of the investigation." "He is not the owner of the cocaine, he is just a user," Pangkahila said, "The police must be able to chase and arrest the person who is acting as his boss, to reveal this case fairly." The Southeast Asian country has extremely strict drug laws and convicted smugglers are sometimes executed by firing squad. The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime says Indonesia is a major drug-smuggling hub despite having some of the strictest drug laws in the world, in part because international drug syndicates target its young population. On Tuesday, Denpasar District Court handed a 10-month prison sentence to Thomas Parker, a British national who was arrested in January after he collected a package containing drugs from a motorcycle taxi driver. Indonesian authorities arrested an Argentinian woman and a British man in March for allegedly smuggling 324 grams of cocaine on Bali. About 530 people, including 96 foreigners, are on death row in Indonesia, mostly for drug-related crimes, the Ministry of Immigration and Corrections' data showed.
News.com.au
5 days ago
- General
- News.com.au
Australian man arrested in Bali says he had no idea drug parcels contained cocaine
An Australian man who could face the death penalty in Indonesia over an alleged attempt to smuggle $1.1m worth of cocaine into Bali claims he was set up and had no idea the parcels he collected contained drugs. Lamar Ahchee, 43, originally from Cairns and the son of former Queensland senior constable Les Ahchee, was arrested last Thursday after allegedly collecting two drug-filled parcels sent from the UK. Authorities allege 1.8kg of cocaine was concealed inside two Gold Lindt chocolate boxes, with each box containing 54 individually wrapped packets of the drug that weighed 8.3g per packet. Mr Ahchee allegedly tested positive for drugs while in custody. His lawyer, Edward Pangkahila, said his client denied any involvement in drug trafficking. 'He's telling me that honestly, he doesn't know what was inside. We're still looking for that somebody who tell him to take this package,' Mr Pangkahila said. 'The police have to find this guy.' Mr Pangkahila said his client was 'very upset and stressed' by the ordeal. The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade confirmed that consular support was being provided to an Australian man detained in Bali but declined to provide further information due to privacy obligations. Bali police Chief Inspector General Daniel Adityajaya said the parcels arrived in Indonesia on May 12 and were flagged as suspicious after being scanned at Ngurah Rai Airport. A controlled delivery was then conducted by customs and the Bali Regional Police Narcotics Directorate. One parcel was allegedly sent from Runwell, east of London, addressed to 'Alex and Julie' in Kuta Utara, near Canggu. The other reportedly came from Braintree and was addressed to 'Dave Jones' in the same area. On May 22, police allege Mr Ahchee arranged for a driver to pick up the parcels. After meeting the driver at a restaurant, he allegedly took the packages back to a location in Canggu, where he was arrested by the Bali drug squad. Authorities say he resisted arrest and sustained injuries during the encounter. Police allege Mr Ahchee was in possession of 1.8kg of cocaine, an amount that carries the death penalty under Indonesian law, and he was offered nearly 50 million rupiah (about $A4700) to receive and distribute the drugs. He has since been charged with three drug offences, including importing narcotics. Mr Ahchee has been living in Bali since 2017. He previously worked in hospitality and resigned as general manager of Canggu restaurant Brick Lane Bali in November last year after eight months in the role. His LinkedIn profile states he co-founded and directed tech companies in Jakarta and Bali from 2019 and previously worked in marketing in Sydney. His arrest comes just five months after the final members of the infamous Bali Nine returned to Australia, almost two decades after they were caught attempting to smuggle heroin from the holiday island in 2005. Ringleaders Andrew Chan and Myuran Sukumaran were executed by firing squad in 2015. Another member, Tan Duc Thanh Nguyen, died in custody in 2018. Renae Lawrence, who was the only member to avoid a life sentence or the death penalty, was released in 2018. The group had attempted to smuggle 8.3kg of heroin strapped to their bodies.
CTV News
7 days ago
- CTV News
Indonesian police arrest an Australian man for allegedly smuggling cocaine to Bali
Authorities hold a news conference as an Australian man, second left in the background, arrested for allegedly smuggling cocaine stands at the police headquarters in Bali, Indonesia, Monday, May 26, 2025. (AP Photo/Firdia Lisnawati) DENPASAR, Indonesia — Indonesian authorities arrested an Australian man for allegedly smuggling cocaine on the tourist island of Bali, a charge that could carry the death penalty, officials said Monday. The Southeast Asian country has extremely strict drug laws, and convicted smugglers are sometimes executed by firing squad. Lamar Aaron Ahchee, 43, from Cairns in north Queensland, was arrested May 22, after police raided his rented house near Kuta beach, a popular tourist spot, and seized 1.7 kilograms (3.7 pounds) cocaine in 206 clip plastic bags, along with a digital scale and cellular phone, said Bali Police Chief Daniel Adityajaya. The arrest followed an investigation conducted by Bali Police anti-drug surveillance teams who reported the man had received two suspicious packages sent by mail from England, Adityajaya said. 'He is suspected of importing or distributing class 1 narcotics,' Adityajaya told a news conference in the provincial capital, Denpasar. 'He is threatened with the death penalty or life imprisonment.' Adityajaya said a preliminary investigation showed that the Australian had ordered a motorcycle taxi driver through the Grab online service on May 21, to pick up two packages at a post office in Denpasar. The driver was told to hand the two packages to a motorcycle taxi driver from another online service, who was ordered to deliver them to Ahchee's rented house, Adityajaya said. Adityajaya said the suspect told authorities during a police interrogation that he was asked by someone he referred to as 'Boss,' to take the package and distribute it in Bali. He was promised 50 million rupiah (US$3,000) for handling the cocaine. Police on Monday presented the accused at the news conference. He was wearing an orange detainee jumpsuit and a buff mask, with his hands handcuffed. The man did not make a statement. One of his lawyers, Edward Pangkahila, said his team would accompany his client during the police questioning 'to see the progress of the investigation.' 'He is not the owner of the cocaine, he is just a dealer,' Pangkahila said, 'The police must be able to chase and arrest the person who is acting as his boss, to reveal this case fairly.' The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime says Indonesia is a major drug-smuggling hub despite having some of the strictest drug laws in the world, in part because international drug syndicates target its young population. Denpasar District Court on Tuesday is scheduled to read out a verdict against Thomas Parker, a British national who was arrested on Jan. 21, after he allegedly collected a package containing drugs from a motorcycle taxi driver. Indonesian authorities arrested an Argentinian woman and a British man in March for allegedly smuggling 324 grams (0.7 pounds) of cocaine on the tourist island of Bali. About 530 people, including 96 foreigners, are on death row in Indonesia, mostly for drug-related crimes, the Ministry of Immigration and Corrections' data showed. Indonesia's last executions, of an Indonesian and three foreigners, were carried out in July 2016. Associated Press writer Niniek Karmini in Jakarta, Indonesia, contributed to this report. Firdia Lisnawati, The Associated Press
The Advertiser
7 days ago
- The Advertiser
Australian arrested in Bali over alleged drug smuggling
Authorities are providing consular assistance in Bali to an Australian man accused of trying to smuggle drugs into the Indonesian tourist hotspot. The 43-year-old Sydney man from Sydney was arrested on Thursday after police raided his rented house near Kuta Beach. Authorities seized 1.7kg of cocaine along with a digital scale and mobile phone, Bali Police Chief Daniel Adityajaya said. The arrest followed an investigation conducted by Bali Police anti-drug surveillance teams who reported the man had received two suspicious packages sent by mail from England, Mr Adityajaya said. "He is suspected of importing or distributing class 1 narcotics," Mr Adityaja told a news conference in Denpasar. "He is threatened with the death penalty or life imprisonment." Police on Monday presented the accused man at the news conference. He was wearing an orange detainee jumpsuit and a buff mask, with his hands handcuffed. The man did not make a statement. The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade confirmed it was providing consular assistance to an Australian detained in Bali. "Owing to our privacy obligations we are unable to provide further comment," a spokesperson said. Indonesian authorities allege the man had ordered a motorcycle taxi driver through the Grab online service on May 21, to pick up two packages at a post office in Denpasar. The driver was told to hand the two packages to a motorcycle taxi driver from another online service, who was ordered to deliver them to the Australian's rented house, Mr Adityajaya said. Indonesia has some of the world's strictest drug laws. Bali Nine ringleaders Andrew Chan and Myuran Sukumaran were executed by firing squad in 2015, sparking a diplomatic incident with Australia. They were among nine Australians arrested in 2005 for attempting to smuggle heroin out of the Indonesian resort island. In December, Indonesia returned to Australia the five remaining members of the drug smuggling ring who had been serving life sentences in the Southeast Asian country. The men, who have not been pardoned, are banned from entering Indonesia for life. Renae Lawrence was released in 2018 and Tan Duc Than Nguyen died of cancer the same year. With AP Authorities are providing consular assistance in Bali to an Australian man accused of trying to smuggle drugs into the Indonesian tourist hotspot. The 43-year-old Sydney man from Sydney was arrested on Thursday after police raided his rented house near Kuta Beach. Authorities seized 1.7kg of cocaine along with a digital scale and mobile phone, Bali Police Chief Daniel Adityajaya said. The arrest followed an investigation conducted by Bali Police anti-drug surveillance teams who reported the man had received two suspicious packages sent by mail from England, Mr Adityajaya said. "He is suspected of importing or distributing class 1 narcotics," Mr Adityaja told a news conference in Denpasar. "He is threatened with the death penalty or life imprisonment." Police on Monday presented the accused man at the news conference. He was wearing an orange detainee jumpsuit and a buff mask, with his hands handcuffed. The man did not make a statement. The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade confirmed it was providing consular assistance to an Australian detained in Bali. "Owing to our privacy obligations we are unable to provide further comment," a spokesperson said. Indonesian authorities allege the man had ordered a motorcycle taxi driver through the Grab online service on May 21, to pick up two packages at a post office in Denpasar. The driver was told to hand the two packages to a motorcycle taxi driver from another online service, who was ordered to deliver them to the Australian's rented house, Mr Adityajaya said. Indonesia has some of the world's strictest drug laws. Bali Nine ringleaders Andrew Chan and Myuran Sukumaran were executed by firing squad in 2015, sparking a diplomatic incident with Australia. They were among nine Australians arrested in 2005 for attempting to smuggle heroin out of the Indonesian resort island. In December, Indonesia returned to Australia the five remaining members of the drug smuggling ring who had been serving life sentences in the Southeast Asian country. The men, who have not been pardoned, are banned from entering Indonesia for life. Renae Lawrence was released in 2018 and Tan Duc Than Nguyen died of cancer the same year. With AP Authorities are providing consular assistance in Bali to an Australian man accused of trying to smuggle drugs into the Indonesian tourist hotspot. The 43-year-old Sydney man from Sydney was arrested on Thursday after police raided his rented house near Kuta Beach. Authorities seized 1.7kg of cocaine along with a digital scale and mobile phone, Bali Police Chief Daniel Adityajaya said. The arrest followed an investigation conducted by Bali Police anti-drug surveillance teams who reported the man had received two suspicious packages sent by mail from England, Mr Adityajaya said. "He is suspected of importing or distributing class 1 narcotics," Mr Adityaja told a news conference in Denpasar. "He is threatened with the death penalty or life imprisonment." Police on Monday presented the accused man at the news conference. He was wearing an orange detainee jumpsuit and a buff mask, with his hands handcuffed. The man did not make a statement. The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade confirmed it was providing consular assistance to an Australian detained in Bali. "Owing to our privacy obligations we are unable to provide further comment," a spokesperson said. Indonesian authorities allege the man had ordered a motorcycle taxi driver through the Grab online service on May 21, to pick up two packages at a post office in Denpasar. The driver was told to hand the two packages to a motorcycle taxi driver from another online service, who was ordered to deliver them to the Australian's rented house, Mr Adityajaya said. Indonesia has some of the world's strictest drug laws. Bali Nine ringleaders Andrew Chan and Myuran Sukumaran were executed by firing squad in 2015, sparking a diplomatic incident with Australia. They were among nine Australians arrested in 2005 for attempting to smuggle heroin out of the Indonesian resort island. In December, Indonesia returned to Australia the five remaining members of the drug smuggling ring who had been serving life sentences in the Southeast Asian country. The men, who have not been pardoned, are banned from entering Indonesia for life. Renae Lawrence was released in 2018 and Tan Duc Than Nguyen died of cancer the same year. With AP Authorities are providing consular assistance in Bali to an Australian man accused of trying to smuggle drugs into the Indonesian tourist hotspot. The 43-year-old Sydney man from Sydney was arrested on Thursday after police raided his rented house near Kuta Beach. Authorities seized 1.7kg of cocaine along with a digital scale and mobile phone, Bali Police Chief Daniel Adityajaya said. The arrest followed an investigation conducted by Bali Police anti-drug surveillance teams who reported the man had received two suspicious packages sent by mail from England, Mr Adityajaya said. "He is suspected of importing or distributing class 1 narcotics," Mr Adityaja told a news conference in Denpasar. "He is threatened with the death penalty or life imprisonment." Police on Monday presented the accused man at the news conference. He was wearing an orange detainee jumpsuit and a buff mask, with his hands handcuffed. The man did not make a statement. The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade confirmed it was providing consular assistance to an Australian detained in Bali. "Owing to our privacy obligations we are unable to provide further comment," a spokesperson said. Indonesian authorities allege the man had ordered a motorcycle taxi driver through the Grab online service on May 21, to pick up two packages at a post office in Denpasar. The driver was told to hand the two packages to a motorcycle taxi driver from another online service, who was ordered to deliver them to the Australian's rented house, Mr Adityajaya said. Indonesia has some of the world's strictest drug laws. Bali Nine ringleaders Andrew Chan and Myuran Sukumaran were executed by firing squad in 2015, sparking a diplomatic incident with Australia. They were among nine Australians arrested in 2005 for attempting to smuggle heroin out of the Indonesian resort island. In December, Indonesia returned to Australia the five remaining members of the drug smuggling ring who had been serving life sentences in the Southeast Asian country. The men, who have not been pardoned, are banned from entering Indonesia for life. Renae Lawrence was released in 2018 and Tan Duc Than Nguyen died of cancer the same year. With AP
SBS Australia
7 days ago
- SBS Australia
Australian man arrested in Bali over alleged drug smuggling could face death penalty
An Australian man arrested in Bali for allegedly smuggling cocaine could face the death penalty if charged and convicted, local authorities say. The 43-year-old man was arrested on Thursday after police raided his rented house near Kuta Beach. Authorities seized 1.7kg of cocaine along with a digital scale and mobile phone, Bali Police Chief Daniel Adityajaya said. The arrest followed an investigation conducted by Bali Police anti-drug surveillance teams, who reported the man had received two suspicious packages sent by mail from England, Adityajaya said. "He is suspected of importing or distributing class 1 narcotics," Adityaja told a news conference in Denpasar. "He is threatened with the death penalty or life imprisonment." Police on Monday presented the accused man at the news conference. He was wearing an orange detainee jumpsuit and a buff mask, with his hands handcuffed. The man did not make a statement. The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade confirmed it was providing consular assistance to an Australian detained in Bali. "Owing to our privacy obligations we are unable to provide further comment," a spokesperson said. Indonesian authorities allege the man had ordered a motorcycle taxi driver through the Grab online service on 21 May, to pick up two packages at a post office in Denpasar. The driver was told to hand the two packages to a motorcycle taxi driver from another online service, who was ordered to deliver them to the Australian man's rented house, Adityajaya said. Indonesia has some of the world's strictest drug laws. Bali Nine ringleaders Andrew Chan and Myuran Sukumaran were executed by firing squad in 2015, sparking a diplomatic incident with Australia. They were among nine Australians arrested in 2005 for attempting to smuggle heroin out of the Indonesian resort island. In December, Indonesia returned to Australia the five remaining members of the drug smuggling ring who had been serving life sentences in the Southeast Asian country. The men, who have not been pardoned, are banned from entering Indonesia for life. Renae Lawrence was released in 2018 and Tan Duc Than Nguyen died of cancer the same year.
