The suspect, identified as YK (24), a Russian national, was arrested\nat I Gusti Ngurah Rai International Airport.<\/p>\n
Director of the Bali Police Narcotics Investigation Unit Senior\nCommissioner Radiant said the operation was carried out in cooperation\nwith Ngurah Rai Customs.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe cocaine was concealed in the back wall of a suitcase originating\nfrom Poland,\u201d he told reporters on Tuesday.<\/p>\n
The case began on April 10, when joint officers grew suspicious of a\nforeign passenger arriving on a Polish Airlines flight from Istanbul to\nDenpasar.<\/p>\n
An X-ray scan of his green suitcase revealed hidden packages.<\/p>\n
Upon inspection, eight foil-wrapped packets containing white powder\nwere discovered.<\/p>\n
Forensic tests confirmed the substance as cocaine, weighing 2,544\ngrams \u2014 equivalent to more than 2.5 kilograms.<\/p>\n
Police said the suspect admitted he was recruited in Poland by an\nindividual named Igor, who promised him US$1,000 for transporting the\nsuitcase.<\/p>\n
He had already received a US$200 advance, airfare, and accommodation\nin a villa in Bali\u2019s Canggu area.<\/p>\n
The plan was for another party to collect the suitcase upon his\narrival, but the handover was thwarted.<\/p>\n
In addition to the narcotics, police seized the suitcase, boarding\npasses, and two mobile phones.<\/p>\n
The drugs are estimated to have a street value of Rp17.8 billion\n(around US$1 million), authorities said.<\/p>\n
The suspect faces charges under Indonesia\u2019s strict narcotics laws,\nwhich carry penalties ranging from 20 years in prison to life\nimprisonment or the death penalty.<\/p>\n
Investigators are continuing efforts to trace the wider distribution\nnetwork, both domestically and internationally.<\/p>\n
Translator: Rolandus Nampu, Resinta Sulistiyandari<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/bali-police-foil-cocaine-smuggling-attempt-linked-to-international-network-1776171057", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }