DENPASAR – Three foreign nationals, including a British citizen, have been arrested in Bali for drug trafficking, allegedly using the illicit trade to fund their stay on the island. The suspects, identified as TP (32) from the United Kingdom, AZ (41) from Russia, and MI (30) from Ukraine, were apprehended by the Bali National Narcotics Agency (BNN).

“Their involvement in drug trafficking appears to be linked to financing their lifestyle while staying in Bali,” said Commissioner I Made Sinar Subawa, Head of Eradication at BNN Bali, during a press conference on Thursday (6/3).

Authorities believe the three suspects were operating under different drug networks, though they have refused to cooperate with investigators, keeping details about their suppliers and distribution channels tightly guarded.

Arrest Details and Drug Seizures

TP, the British national, was arrested in Kerobokan, Badung, on Tuesday (21/1) at 6:45 PM local time. His suspicious behavior caught the attention of patrolling officers when he panicked and discarded a package after receiving it from an online delivery courier. Upon inspection, the package was found to contain 1.05 kilograms of ecstasy.

“TP had just arrived from Thailand and was instructed to pick up a package previously shipped through a courier service,” said Brigadier General Rudy Ahmad Sudrajat, Head of BNN Bali.

AZ, the Russian suspect, was apprehended at Ngurah Rai International Airport on Sunday (26/1) at approximately 2:30 AM. He had just arrived from Phuket, Thailand. During an inspection, officers discovered a package of yellowish-brown paste suspected to contain marijuana, concealed inside a round container of body moisturizer.

Meanwhile, MI, the Ukrainian national, was arrested at a villa in Kerobokan on Friday (31/1) at around 2:00 PM. He was caught receiving a package containing 1.3 kilograms of “happy water”—a drug cocktail typically composed of MDMA (ecstasy) mixed with other narcotics and consumed as a beverage.

Severe Legal Consequences

The three suspects have been charged under Indonesia’s Law No. 35 of 2009 on Narcotics, specifically under Article 114 (2), Article 113 (2), or Article 112 (2).

If convicted, they face the death penalty, life imprisonment, or a minimum sentence of five years and a maximum of 20 years in prison.

Authorities are continuing their investigation to determine whether the suspects were part of a larger international drug network operating in Indonesia.