Passengers arriving on international flights on Sept 5, 2024 walk through a health quarantine area at I Gusti Ngurah Rai International Airport in Badung regency, Bali. - Antara
DENPASAR: Bali authorities arrested a Thai couple on Sept 3 for attempting to smuggle 1.6 kilos of a powdered drink mix containing methamphetamine and MDMA, the latter more commonly known as ecstasy, through I Gusti Ngurah Rai International Airport on the island province.
The Thai nationals, identified only by their initials RJ, a 33-year-old male, and WW, a 31-year-old female, were arrested upon their arrival after airport authorities discovered packages of a powdered drink mix containing the synthetic stimulants.
Bali National Narcotics Agency (BNN) chief Rudy Ahmad Sudrajat said the powdered drink mix sachets were found inside a sealed box and were allegedly intended for consuming after dissolving the powder in water or a soft drink.
"The drink can create an effect of excessive pleasure or euphoria," Rudy told a press conference on Tuesday (Sept 17) in Denpasar.
The Bali BNN and the Customs Office confiscated more than 1.6kg of the powdered drink mix in 99 sachets from the couple’s luggage, as well as 28gm of methamphetamine, 20 ecstasy pills and 192gm of MDMA.
Upon further investigation, the Bali BNN detained on Sept 5 two Indonesians, identified as VRR and D, the former alleged of ordering the contraband and the latter alleged of planning the drugs’ transportation.
Rudy added that all four suspects would be charged under the 2009 Narcotics Law for importing or distributing illicit substances and for conspiracy to commit drug crimes, which carry a maximum punishment of death.
Local authorities have arrested several other foreign nationals for alleged drug offences in recent months. On July 23, a Latvian man identified as VS was arrested upon his arrival at Ngurah Rai airport after authorities found more than 450g of hashish and 977g of marijuana in his suitcase.
"VS admitted that he brought the hashish from Nepal and the marijuana from Thailand," Rudy said, and that he had been asked to carry the drugs in return for payment.
VS could also face charges under the Narcotics Law that carry a maximum death sentence. The Bali BNN has disclosed no other details on the case to date.
On July 31, the Bali BNN and the Customs Office arrested a Swedish man, identified by the initial SUE, for receiving 201.28g of hashish sent by mail from Thailand.
SUE is now facing trial, and prosecutors have charged him with keeping and importing drugs as well as conspiring to commit drug crimes, which carry a maximum punishment of 15 years in prison. Indonesia has some of the world's toughest drug laws, with punishments that include the death penalty for traffickers.
Dozens of foreign nationals convicted for trafficking drugs are on death row in the country, including an elderly British woman and a Philippine woman. - The Straits Times/ANN
