DENPASAR, Bali – A Portuguese woman stopped at Bali’s I Gusti Ngurah Rai International Airport after security officers discovered 50 rounds of ammunition in her backpack has told investigators she was unaware the bullets were still inside her bag.
The incident occurred in the early hours of Sunday, June 21, as the 47-year-old passenger, identified as Ribeiro Da Cruz De Freites Nunes Ana Carolina, was preparing to board an Etihad Airways flight from Denpasar to Abu Dhabi.
According to airport police, the ammunition was discovered during a routine security screening at the International Departure Terminal. An operator monitoring the X-ray scanner noticed suspicious objects inside Carolina’s black backpack, prompting a manual inspection.
Security officers subsequently found 50 rounds of .22 Long Rifle (LR) ammunition inside the bag and immediately alerted airline personnel and police stationed at the airport.
Carolina was taken to the International Terminal Police Post for initial questioning before being transferred to the Ngurah Rai Airport Police for further investigation.
Police spokesperson Ipda I Gede Suka Artana said Carolina acknowledged that the ammunition belonged to her but claimed she did not realize it remained inside the backpack.
“During the initial examination, she admitted that the ammunition was hers. However, she stated that she did not know and was not aware that it was still inside the bag,” Artana said on Tuesday.
Investigators are now working to determine where the ammunition came from and how it ended up in the passenger’s luggage.
Authorities have not disclosed whether Carolina possessed any documentation related to the ammunition, and further forensic examinations are still underway.
“We are still tracing the origin of the evidence and awaiting the results of additional examinations,” Artana said.
The discovery has drawn attention because Indonesia maintains some of the region’s strictest regulations regarding firearms and ammunition. Possessing or transporting ammunition without proper authorization can carry serious legal consequences.
Police have not announced any additional charges and said Carolina’s legal status will depend on the outcome of the ongoing investigation.
For now, investigators remain focused on answering the central question surrounding the case: how 50 rounds of ammunition ended up in the backpack of a passenger who claims she did not know they were there.
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