British National Arrested in Bali for Possessing 1.4 Kilograms of Cocaine
A British national with the initials BJS, known as BJ, has been arrested by the Narcotics Investigation Unit (Satresnarkoba) of Denpasar Police for possessing 1,419.79 grams, approximately 1.4 kilograms, of cocaine in a hotel room at The Legian Mas Beach Inn, Jalan Lebak Bene Number 168, Legian District, Kuta Sub-district, Badung, Bali.
According to Denpasar Police Chief Kombes Leonardo David Simatupang during a press conference on Wednesday, 25 February 2026, BJ is a tourist born in Hong Kong who has long resided there. He arrived in Bali and someone instructed him to collect a bag, which he did.
BJ was arrested at The Legian Mas Beach Inn on Saturday, 14 February 2026 at approximately 10:50 am local time. The case emerged from an investigation by the Narcotics Investigation Unit’s operational team, who suspected that Jalan Lebak Bene was frequently used for drug transactions. During surveillance, officers observed suspicious behaviour from BJ outside his accommodation. Police conducted a body search but found no evidence. Officers then searched his hotel room, where they discovered five large clip bags containing cocaine weighing 1,419.79 grams.
According to BJ’s confession, the cocaine was entrusted to him by someone called MIC BRO. He claimed he was merely asked to receive and store the package until someone else collected it.
“BJ himself admitted that someone would collect the goods. The goods were inside a bag. So this was inside a box, wrapped, and placed inside a suitcase,” explained Leonardo.
BJ arrived in Bali on 20 December 2025 after being asked by MIC BRO to receive a package from someone who would deliver it directly to his accommodation. Six days later, on 26 December 2025, two unknown individuals came to the hotel where BJ was staying, NAM Hotel, carrying a shopping bag containing cocaine and two weighing scales. BJ was asked to store the goods until someone collected them. In return, BJ received 10 million rupiah in cash as pocket money for storing the cocaine.
BJ also took some cocaine for personal use. The cocaine he took was mixed with soda, then boiled until it hardened into a solid form and consumed by smoking it through an iron pipe. The remainder was wrapped in white paper and stored in a black box inside his suitcase.
BJ claimed he was promised a payment of 50,000 Hong Kong dollars to pay for his rent in Hong Kong. MIC BRO allegedly sent money ten times, each transfer of 2,000 Hong Kong dollars. He admitted the money had been spent entirely on hotel rent and food expenses whilst in Bali.
Leonardo revealed that the value of the cocaine evidence, when converted to rupiah, exceeds 5 billion rupiah. The case is suspected to be connected to an international network, given the large quantity of evidence and the cross-border smuggling pattern.
“This is suspected to be an international syndicate. That is why our officers continue to investigate and develop further findings or arrests regarding BJ,” Leonardo stated firmly.
Leonardo revealed that BJ in this case played the role of a distributor and is charged under Article 609 paragraph (2) of Law Number 1 of 2023 concerning the Criminal Code (KUHP) in conjunction with Law Number 1 of 2026 concerning Criminal Penalty Adjustment.
BJ now faces life imprisonment or a minimum of five years and a maximum of twenty years, as well as fines of at least 500 million rupiah and at most 2 billion rupiah. Police are continuing to pursue the individual known as MIC BRO, who is suspected of being the controller of the cocaine distribution network.