Authorities said they have arrested six people on drug charges on the tourist island of Bali since July. Four could face execution under the country’s strict drug laws.
Two Thai nationals, Rachanon Jongseeha, 33, and his girlfriend Woranawan Wongsuwan, 31, were arrested upon arrival at Bali’s Ngurah Rai airport on Sept 8, with 1.9kg of methamphetamines mixed with ecstasy powder packed in 108 sachets of a fruit-flavoured collagen drink, and 20 pills of the party drug ecstasy, according to provincial anti-narcotics chief Rudy Ahmad Sudrajat.
Police later arrested two Indonesians on accusations of ordering the drugs from Thailand.
All four could face execution by firing squad if charged and found guilty, Sudrajat said.
In November 2019, a court in Bali sentenced two Thais to 16-year prison terms for smuggling 1kg of methamphetamine.
Authorities also announced the July arrests of two European men on drug charges.
Rudy said a Latvian man, identified by the initials VS, was arrested at the airport on July 4 carrying 450.41g of hashish and 977.83g of marijuana concealed in his suitcase.
Rudy said VS had a tattoo indicating affiliation with organised crime groups in the former Soviet Union.
He faces a possible life sentence for cannabis smuggling.
A Swedish man identified by the initials SUE was captured on July 31 when police raided his villa in Gianyar, a popular tourist spot, and seized 201.28g of hashish, following a tip that SUE had received a suspicious package by mail from Thailand, Rudy said.
He faces up to 15 years on charges of possession.
Indonesia has dozens of convicted drug smugglers on death row. Its last executions were carried out in July 2016, when an Indonesian and three foreigners were shot by firing squad. — AP
