Bali Airport Arrests Highlight Indonesia’s Severe Drug Laws
Two International Travelers Face Death Penalty for Smuggling Narcotics
Authorities in Bali have apprehended a Brazilian man and a South African woman on drug smuggling charges, underscoring Indonesia’s stringent penalties, which include capital punishment for traffickers.
Caught with Cocaine and Methamphetamine
The arrests occurred on July 13 at Bali’s international airport. The Brazilian national was found with over three kilograms of cocaine concealed in his backpack and luggage. According to I Made Sinar Subawa of the local anti-narcotics agency, the suspect was allegedly acting as a courier with instructions to deliver the drugs in Bali.
On the same day, the South African woman was apprehended upon arrival from Singapore. Nearly one kilogram of crystal methamphetamine was reportedly hidden within her clothing. She confessed to being instructed to transport the narcotics from Johannesburg to Bali for a local recipient.
Indonesia’s Strict Stance on Drugs
Indonesia is known for having some of the world’s most severe drug laws. The nation’s tough stance includes the death penalty for drug traffickers, a policy that has led to numerous individuals being placed on death row, including foreign nationals.
The country’s last executions for drug offenses took place in 2016, when four inmates, one Indonesian and three Nigerians, were executed by firing squad. Recent data indicates that Indonesia has continued to enforce these strict measures, with reports of significant drug seizures at its borders.
Broader Pattern of Drug Smuggling by South Africans
The recent arrests are part of a concerning trend, with South African women frequently apprehended in foreign countries for drug trafficking. Mauritius, in particular, has seen multiple such incidents.
In one notable case from September 17, 2019, a 34-year-old South African woman, Nokuphila Mtshali from KwaZulu-Natal, was arrested at Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam Airport in Mauritius. She was found with 528 grams of heroin concealed internally. Following her cooperation, authorities orchestrated a sting operation that led to the arrest of two Nigerian men, Ndubuisi Samuel Ebielonwu and Eze Collins. Mtshali was reportedly promised R40,000 for the delivery.
A year prior to that, Thami Nomathamsanqa Dyasi, then 30, was reportedly detained in Mauritius with over 1.25 kilograms of heroin, found concealed within her body.