Bali Authorities Arrest Australian, Indian, and American Nationals for Drug Possession; Suspects Face Death Penalty Under Indonesian Law

Australian national identified as P.R., second left, and an Indian national identified as H.V., left, who were arrested for drug possession, react during a National Narcotics Agency press conference in Denpasar, Bali, Indonesia Thursday, June 5, 2025

Indonesian authorities on the island of Bali have arrested multiple foreign nationals—including an Australian, an Indian, and an American—on suspicion of drug possession and trafficking, crimes that carry the possibility of the death penalty under the country’s strict narcotics laws.

The arrests began on May 29 at Ngurah Rai International Airport, where customs officials detained an Indian national identified by the initials H.V. in the customs inspection area. Authorities discovered narcotic-related materials in his duffel bag. Upon interrogation, H.V. admitted that the bag was brought to Bali at the request of another foreigner.

Later that same day, officers from Bali’s Provincial National Narcotics Agency apprehended an Australian national with the initials P.R., a frequent visitor to Bali since 1988. Authorities searched his residence and discovered hashish—a cannabis concentrate—purchased via the encrypted messaging app Telegram. The hashish had been shipped from Los Angeles and the Philippines before being delivered to Bali.

In total, officials seized 191 grams (6.7 ounces) of hashish, 488 grams (17.2 ounces) of marijuana, and several candies infused with tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the psychoactive compound in cannabis.

According to I Made Sinar Subawa of the narcotics agency, the evidence suggests both H.V. and P.R. were involved in the distribution of narcotics. P.R. is now under investigation for violating Indonesia’s Narcotics Law, which can result in the death penalty, life imprisonment, or a prison sentence ranging from four to twelve years.

Authorities also announced the arrest of an American national, identified as W.M., on May 23. W.M. was detained while collecting a parcel at a local post office in Bali. Inside the package, officers discovered seven silver-wrapped packages containing 99 orange amphetamine pills and confiscated a white Apple iPhone found in his possession.

At a news conference in Denpasar on Thursday, officials displayed the seized evidence—including marijuana, hashish, and amphetamines—collected during the raids and arrests. All three suspects are currently in custody and will face full legal proceedings in Indonesia, including trial and sentencing.

Indonesia remains a major hub for international drug smuggling, despite enforcing some of the harshest anti-narcotics laws in the world. The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime attributes this status in part to the country’s large and youthful population, which is often targeted by global drug syndicates.

Just days earlier, three British nationals were charged with smuggling nearly one kilogram (over two pounds) of cocaine into Bali, and on May 27, an Australian was arrested for allegedly attempting to bring cocaine into the country. All face the death penalty if convicted.

According to recent data from Indonesia’s Ministry of Immigration and Corrections, approximately 530 individuals are currently on death row for drug-related crimes, including 96 foreign nationals. The last executions in the country took place in July 2016, when one Indonesian and three foreigners were executed by firing squad.