BADUNG, Bali – A French national arrested in Canggu sparked a dramatic pursuit after riding recklessly without a helmet, kicking a police officer, and attempting to flee before officers discovered cocaine and liquid cannabis in his pockets.

Badung Police Chief AKBP Arif Batubara said the suspect resisted arrest and attempted to flee multiple times. “He kicked one of our officers, the Panit Reskrim of North Kuta Police. He kept trying to escape, causing congestion and drawing public attention before he was secured,” Batubara said during a press briefing at Badung Police Headquarters on Monday (1/12).

The incident began on Friday (28/11) around 12:30 p.m., when traffic police and officers from North Kuta Police were managing traffic at Simpang Pipitan during a ministerial visit. Officers noticed a foreign motorcyclist riding aggressively and behaving suspiciously. He was not wearing a helmet nor carrying a license plate.

Officers pursued him for roughly 700 meters and managed to stop him, but when asked to undergo inspection, the suspect refused. Instead, he accelerated, nearly hitting officers, and fled toward Jalan Pantai Batu Bolong. A joint police team then launched a pursuit through several alleys before finally blocking his path at the parking area of Zai Café around 1:45 p.m.

Despite resisting during the arrest, Curtis was subdued. A search of his clothing revealed multiple types of narcotics in both pockets, including liquid THC, cannabis, and cocaine. Officers found two THC vape pods, cannabis wrapped in plastic, a plastic bottle and a glass bottle containing liquid THC in his right pocket. In the left pocket, officers found two additional THC vape pods, a small plastic bag of suspected cocaine, and a mobile phone.

The seized evidence included four THC vape pods weighing 85.36 grams gross (1.54 grams net), a glass bottle of liquid cannabis weighing 11.70 grams gross (4.23 grams net), a packet of cocaine weighing 5.17 grams gross (4.97 grams net), and dried cannabis weighing 7.57 grams gross (1.93 grams net).

The arrest led to a follow-up search at the suspect’s rented villa in Banjar Pengayehan, Cemagi Village, Mengwi. Police found 147 unused vape pods stored in three white boxes, two bundles of empty plastic clips, a syringe, five mobile phones, and a samurai sword.

During questioning, the suspect admitted he received the narcotics from a woman believed to be an Australian national whom he met once in Canggu about ten months ago. “She gave him the narcotics before leaving the country. The suspect claimed he only used cannabis,” Batubara said. The suspect tested positive for THC.

Curtis told investigators that cocaine was sold for around Rp5 million per gram, cannabis for Rp36,000 per gram, and THC for around Rp2 million per milligram. He arrived in Bali on 12 February 2025 and has been renting the villa since 1 November for Rp25 million per month. He holds a temporary residence permit (KITAS).

Police are now investigating his distribution network. “We are still tracing the market—where the drugs were sold and to whom. We will release further details once confirmed,” Batubara added.

The suspect has been charged under Articles 111(1), 112(1), and 114(1) of Indonesia’s Narcotics Law No. 35/2009, carrying a minimum sentence of four years and up to twelve years in prison, along with fines between Rp800 million and Rp8 billion.