BADUNG, Bali — Twenty-four inmates at Kerobokan Prison tested positive for drugs after a joint raid by Bali Police, Indonesia’s Criminal Investigation Department and the National Narcotics Agency on Friday.
Officers carried out urine tests on 36 inmates at the Class IIA correctional facility. Police said 23 tested positive for methamphetamine and one for amphetamine, while 12 returned negative results.
The operation also included searches of several areas inside the prison.
Authorities seized 21 mobile phones, two weighing scales, 5.5 ecstasy pills, 10.36 grams of suspected methamphetamine and several items believed to have been used for consuming the drug.
Bali Police Chief Inspector General Pasma Royce said investigators would examine the seized items further to establish who they belonged to and how the drugs entered the prison.
Police are also investigating whether a wider network or other individuals may have been involved in drug use or trafficking inside the facility.
Five inmates were taken to the Bali Police Narcotics Directorate for further questioning following the raid.
Authorities have not disclosed the identities of the five inmates or announced that any of them have been formally named as suspects.
Police also have not said whether the five are among the 24 inmates who returned positive urine tests.
Royce said the findings highlighted the need for tighter supervision of inmates, prison staff, visitors and the movement of goods into and out of the facility.
The raid was part of a broader enforcement effort aimed at preventing drug abuse and illicit trafficking inside correctional institutions.
Investigators are continuing to trace the origin of the suspected narcotics and determine whether prison personnel or outside parties were involved.
Disclaimer: While every effort has been made to ensure accuracy, this article may contain minor inaccuracies
in names, locations, or event details. Readers are welcome to contact the editorial team for any clarification.