Customs Foils 10kg Marijuana Smuggling Attempt by Two Indian Nationals at Bali Airport
Customs officials at Ngurah Rai Airport in Denpasar intercepted two Indian nationals attempting to smuggle over 10 kilograms of marijuana concealed in their suitcases. The suspects reportedly told authorities they had come to Bali for a three-day family vacation.
Indonesia's Directorate General of Customs and Excise (DJBC) announced on August 7, 2026, that it had foiled an attempted marijuana smuggling operation by foreign nationals at I Gusti Ngurah Rai International Airport in Denpasar, Bali. The case began on August 3 when a Scoot Airlines flight from Koh Samui, Thailand via Singapore arrived in Bali. During routine X-ray screening at international arrivals, customs officers flagged the luggage of two Indian nationals — a manager identified by initials AR and a teacher identified as PC — for further inspection.
Officers found 62 packages of dried plant matter in AR's suitcase, testing positive for marijuana with a net weight of approximately 6,275 grams, and 38 similar packages in PC's suitcase weighing approximately 3,835 grams net. In total, authorities seized over 10.1 kilograms of marijuana, which had been disguised as food souvenirs packed in boxes and mixed with other items in the suitcases.
According to customs officials, both suspects stated during initial questioning that they had come to Bali for a three-day family vacation and admitted to obtaining the drugs from a contact in Thailand before traveling to Indonesia. The suspects and evidence were handed over to the Narcotics Investigation Unit of the Airport Police for further investigation, and a joint team conducted a controlled delivery operation to help uncover a broader trafficking network.
Things to Consider
In Indonesia, possession or smuggling of narcotics including marijuana carries extremely severe penalties, including the death penalty. Travelers should never pack their own luggage with items given by others, nor agree to carry sealed packages or souvenirs on behalf of someone else. Since X-ray screening at Bali's airport is rigorous, keep proper documentation for any medications you carry. Always pack your own bags and firmly decline any request to transport parcels for other people to avoid any suspicion of drug involvement.
Source: cnbcindonesia.com