DENPASAR – Bali Police have arrested three British nationals, identified as JC (37), LE (39), and PA (31), for allegedly smuggling cocaine into the island. Prosecutors claim they attempted to traffic nearly 1kg of cocaine, valued at approximately Rp 6 billion ($368,665).
“The foreign nationals we have detained are British citizens JC, LE, and PA. PA was the recipient of the drugs at Bali’s airport. The cocaine was brought in by JC and LE from the UK,” said Commissioner Ponco Indriyo, Deputy Director of Bali Police’s Anti-Narcotics Unit, during a press conference in Denpasar on Friday.
JC and LE were arrested at Ngurah Rai International Airport on February 1, 2025, at around 8 p.m., after customs officials discovered 994.56 grams of cocaine hidden in food packaging inside their luggage. The two had traveled from the UK with a layover in Doha before arriving in Bali.
Authorities became suspicious after detecting irregularities in their luggage during an X-ray screening. Upon further inspection, officers found 10 plastic packages labeled “Angel Delight” in JC’s gray suitcase, containing a total of 637.12 grams of white powder suspected to be a Class 1 narcotic. In LE’s suitcase, seven additional plastic packages weighing 443.10 grams were discovered, also believed to contain cocaine.
JC and LE were immediately taken to the Ngurah Rai Customs Office for further investigation.
Controlled Delivery Leads to Third Arrest
On February 3, Bali Police conducted a controlled delivery operation, which led to the arrest of PA in Tuban, Badung Regency. PA is believed to have been involved in the drug trafficking operation and was allegedly the intended recipient of the shipment.
According to investigators, this was not the first time the suspects had smuggled drugs into Bali. Police believe they had successfully trafficked cocaine on at least two prior occasions, though details of these operations remain under investigation.
Legal Consequences
The three suspects have been officially charged and could face severe legal repercussions. They have been charged under Article 113 (2) of Indonesia’s Law No. 35 of 2009 on Narcotics, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison.
During the press conference at Bali Police Headquarters, the three suspects were presented alongside other detainees, their hands bound in handcuffs. JC and PA were notably seen laughing multiple times during the event, even as reporters captured their images.
The case remains under investigation as authorities work to uncover further links in the international drug trafficking network.