Latest news with #LamarAaronAhchee
Euronews
2 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.
1News
4 days ago
- 1News
Australian man faces death penalty after Bali cocaine arrest
A 43-year-old Australian man is facing the death penalty in Indonesia, after allegedly trying to smuggle $1.2 million worth of cocaine into Bali disguised in chocolate packaging. Lamar Aaron Ahchee was arrested last week following a controlled delivery operation by Indonesian police and customs officials. Authorities allege he attempted to import 1.8 kilograms of cocaine into the country, hidden inside Lindt chocolate balls. The drugs were reportedly sent in two packages from the UK to Bali. According to Bali police, officers swooped in during the handover at a Canggu villa after receiving a tip-off from the public. Ahchee was allegedly paid 50 million Indonesian rupiah (NZ$5000) to collect and distribute the drugs. He now faces multiple charges under Indonesia's strict narcotics laws, including importing and distributing a Class 1 drug, which carries penalties ranging from life imprisonment to death by firing squad. ADVERTISEMENT Ahchee is believed to be originally from Cairns, Queensland, and had been working in hospitality and marketing in Bali prior to his arrest. Social media posts from earlier this year show him promoting the popular Brick Lane restaurant in Canggu, where he was the general manager until March. The Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade has confirmed it is providing consular assistance to an Australian man detained in Bali. Indonesia maintains some of the harshest drug laws in the world. Travellers to the popular holiday island are regularly warned of the country's zero-tolerance stance, which has seen several foreigners handed death sentences in the past. His arrest comes five months after the last remaining members of the infamous Bali Nine drug smuggling ring were released from Indonesian prisons and repatriated to Australia.
The Star
4 days ago
- The Star
Australian man held over smuggling cocaine to Bali
Under scrutiny: The suspect being escorted to a news conference at the police headquarters in Bali. — AP Athorities arrested an Australian man for allegedly smuggling cocaine on the tourist island of Bali, a charge that could carry the death penalty, officials said. The South-East Asian country has extremely strict drug laws. Convicted smugglers are sometimes executed by firing squad. Lamar Aaron Ahchee, 43, from Cairns in north Queensland, was arrested last week, after police raided his rented house near Kuta beach, a popular tourist spot, and seized 1.7kg of 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 on Monday. 'He is suspected of importing or distributing class 1 narcotics,' Adityajaya told a news conference in the provincial capital, Denpasar. 'He may face 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 (RM12,960) 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.' — AP
CTV News
5 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
Time of India
5 days ago
- Time of India
Indonesian police arrest an Australian man for allegedly smuggling cocaine to Bali
Photo: AP DENPASAR: 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. Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Her body cannot endure this level of pain; please help her. Donate For Health Learn More Undo 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 ($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.
