DENPASAR, Bali — An Indonesian court has sentenced a 21-year-old Ukrainian national to 20 years in prison for smuggling nearly two kilograms of synthetic drugs into Bali through I Gusti Ngurah Rai International Airport.

The verdict was handed down by the Denpasar District Court on Thursday (January 29, 2026). Presiding judge Ni Kadek Kusuma Wardani also ordered the defendant, Kateryna Vakarova, to pay a fine of Rp1 billion, or face an additional 190 days in jail.

The court imposed a harsher sentence than the 12-year prison term sought by prosecutors, citing the large quantity of drugs involved.

“The heavy sentence is intended to create a deterrent effect for foreigners attempting to smuggle drugs into Indonesia, as narcotics pose a serious threat to the nation,” Judge Wardani said during the hearing.

Vakarova was found guilty under Article 609 Paragraph (2)(a) of Indonesia’s Criminal Code, as amended under the 2023 Criminal Law and the 2026 Penal Adjustment Law.

Judges listed aggravating factors, including the defendant’s status as a foreign national who violated Indonesian drug laws and caused public concern. Mitigating factors included her admission of guilt and cooperative behavior during trial.

Both the defendant and prosecutors stated they are considering an appeal.

Case Background

Vakarova arrived in Bali on August 3, 2025, aboard Qatar Airways flight QR260 on the Warsaw–Doha–Denpasar route. Customs officers flagged her luggage during an X-ray inspection and detained one of her suitcases.

Authorities discovered six packages of Class I narcotics, identified as 4-CMC (4-chloromethcathinone)—also known as klefedron or blue sapphire—a synthetic stimulant known to cause hallucinations and paranoia. The drugs were concealed in various containers, including metal tins and plastic jars.

The total weight reached 2,120 grams gross, with 1,991.25 grams net.

During questioning, Vakarova claimed she had been contacted via the OLX marketplace by an unknown individual and instructed to collect a pink suitcase at the airport before delivering it to a guest house in Jimbaran. She said she was promised US$500 for the delivery and denied knowing the owner of the drugs.