A 43-year-old Australian man has been arrested in Bali after allegedly being caught with 1.7 kilograms of cocaine — an amount that could lead to the death penalty under Indonesian law.
Who is the Suspect?
The man has been identified by sources as Lamar Ahchee. He was arrested last Thursday in an apartment in Canggu, a popular tourist area on the Indonesian island.
Authorities claim the cocaine, with an estimated street value of $1.1 million AUD, was cleverly hidden inside sweets. Police also allege that Ahchee was to be paid only $4700 AUD (approximately 50 million Indonesian Rupiah) to receive the package.
How the Arrest Unfolded
Acting on a tip-off from customs officials, Indonesian police were informed that a drug shipment was en route from the United Kingdom. On May 20, customs intercepted the packages and allowed them to proceed to their intended destination—a post office—in order to observe who would pick them up.
According to Bali Police Chief Daniel Aditya Jaya, both the sender and recipient names on the package were fake.
Rather than collecting the package himself, Ahchee allegedly hired a driver to retrieve it on his behalf. The package was picked up from the post office and delivered to Ahchee at a restaurant in the Renon district the next day. Investigators believe the driver was unaware of the package’s contents.
Capture and Charges
After the handover, police tailed the suspect back to his apartment, where he was arrested. According to a source close to the investigation, Ahchee sustained minor injuries while resisting arrest.
During a police press conference on Monday, he was presented to the media wearing an orange prison uniform and a face mask.
Authorities claim that Ahchee was waiting for instructions from an unidentified individual referred to only as “Boss”, whom he allegedly did not know personally.
In a statement, Indonesian police said the cocaine seizure had “successfully saved 2,666 lives.”
What Happens Next?
Under Indonesian narcotics law, possession of more than 5 grams of a Category-1 drug like cocaine is punishable by death or life imprisonment. While the death penalty is a legal possibility, lesser sentences can also be issued depending on the circumstances.
The Australian Federal Police and the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) have confirmed they are aware of the arrest. DFAT stated that consular assistance is being provided, but due to privacy obligations, they declined to comment further.
A Diplomatic Dilemma?
If convicted, Lamar Ahchee’s case could pose a diplomatic challenge for the Australian government, which has long opposed the death penalty. This situation echoes the infamous Bali Nine case.
In that case, Andrew Chan and Myuran Sukumaran were executed in 2015, a decade after being caught attempting to smuggle heroin out of Indonesia. Five other Bali Nine members were released or returned to Australia recently, following a shift in diplomatic relations under Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto. The case of Lamar Ahchee is a stark reminder of how seriously drug offences are treated in Indonesia—especially for foreign nationals. As the legal process unfolds, all eyes will be on both the Indonesian courts and the Australian government’s next moves.
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