BADUNG, Bali — Two Chilean nationals were arrested on their first trip to Bali after customs officers allegedly found about 4.5 kilograms of cocaine hidden inside specially modified compartments in their backpacks at I Gusti Ngurah Rai International Airport.
The man, identified by the initials BFCN, and the woman, JEOP, arrived in Bali on October 3 aboard a Jetstar flight from Melbourne. Authorities said their journey had begun in Santiago, Chile, before they travelled through Australia and continued to Indonesia.
Customs officers became suspicious after the pair’s luggage passed through an X-ray scanner at the international arrivals terminal. A search allegedly uncovered four black plastic packages containing white powder concealed inside hidden compartments in two backpacks.
Laboratory tests identified the substance as cocaine. Authorities recorded a total gross weight of 4,594.5 grams, including 2,310 grams found in BFCN’s backpack and 2,284.5 grams in JEOP’s.
The case was then handed over to the Bali Provincial National Narcotics Agency, or BNNP Bali, for further investigation.
Investigators said the two Chilean nationals told authorities it was their first visit to Indonesia. They allegedly claimed their travel arrangements had been financed by a person identified only by the initial A in Chile.
The investigation later led officers to an Indonesian man identified as HU, who was arrested at a hotel in Kuta. Authorities allege HU was supposed to receive the cocaine after the shipment reached Bali.
BNNP Bali said HU told investigators he was acting on instructions from another person known as “Mbah,” who allegedly communicated directly with A in Chile.
Authorities are still searching for the person referred to as Mbah as they investigate how the shipment was organised and whether other people were involved.
Officials estimated the seized cocaine could have had a street value of more than Rp15 billion, although the figure is an estimate rather than a confirmed sale value.
The arrests were publicly announced on October 15 during a joint press conference involving Bali-Nusa Tenggara Customs and BNNP Bali.
Investigators have not publicly established whether the suspects are part of a wider international drug trafficking network, and the case remains under investigation.
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