New details emerge on Port Lincoln father Troy Smith arrested in Bali for alleged drug possession
A Port Lincoln father facing 12 years jail in Bali on a drugs charge claims he was sent an unsolicited package purporting to contain lubricant, which instead held drugs.
SA News
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A Port Lincoln father allegedly caught with methamphetamine in Bali was sent an unsolicited package, purportedly holding lubricant but actually containing drugs, while in the Indonesian party capital, his lawyer claims.
Troy Smith’s solicitor Ida Bagus Gumilang Galih Sakti says that package, sent from Cairns, drew the attention of Balinese authorities and sparked a police raid on his client’s hotel room.
Mr Smith is facing a drug possession charge, which carries a maximum prison sentence of 12 years, and is currently being held in custody in Denpasar.
Balinese police arrested Mr Smith on April 30 at Champlung Mas Hotel in Legian, a beach area north of Kuta.
Mr Sakti said Mr Smith admitted a friend sent the 3.15g of meth in the package as a “present” but he did not order it.
However he said Mr Smith bought 0.04g of meth from a Kuta street for $400 and this, as well as a bong and a lighter, were subsequently found during the raid.
The package’s label states it was sent to Mr Smith from Bungalow, a suburb of Cairns, and it purports its contents was a “receipt & private paperwork & photo. Tube of lubricant”.
Mr Sakti said the 3.15g of meth was in a Colgate toothpaste container in the package.
The lawyer, who visited Mr Smith in jail on Thursday, said his client had been addicted to meth since 2020.
“We are trying to get him rehab, we will do whatever we can to prove it was for his use,” he said.
“He’s a little bit shocked with the situation of course because of what’s happening … very intense interview from the police.”
Mr Sakti said his client had arrived in Bali a week before the arrest and planned to stay for a month.
Mr Smith’s new wife Tracy was there during the arrest but was unaware of her husband’s drug use, according to the lawyer.
Ms Smith remains in Bali to support her husband.
A source close to Mr Smith’s family, who wished to remain anonymous, said relatives flew into Bali on Wednesday evening to support him.
“There is family over there, supporting him in any way they can,” they said.
“They don’t know what’s going on. They’re just in shock.”
The source said Mr Smith’s alleged conduct was “out-of-character” and he was “just a pretty regular kind of guy”.
“It’s not his normal thing to (allegedly) do something stupid like that,” they said.
Bali Police narcotic director Iwan Eka Putra confirmed Mr Smith remained behind bars as authorities continued their investigations.
“We are still doing further investigations, especially to find out where the drugs were coming from,” he said.
Mr Putra said local police believed Mr Smith, a father of two, purchased the methamphetamine from someone in Bali.
He said Mr Smith was expected to be charged with drug possession, which carries a maximum 12-year jail term and a fine of about $756,000 (8 billion rupiah).
Anyone caught trafficking narcotics in Indonesia faces a maximum jail term of 20 years and a fine up to $946,000 (10 billion rupiah).
Posts on Ms Smith’s Instagram account show the couple tied the knot in December last year, with the bride uploading several photos from the wedding day alongside captions “eternity” and “the perfect day”. Ms Smith’s account also shows her and her new husband holidaying in the tourist hotspot several times last year.
On October 18 last year, Ms Smith posted a picture of an engagement ring captioned “I said yes to my amazing fiance”.
“My favourite place in the world is next to you,” Ms Smith captioned a photo of her and Mr Smith on October 20.
Other posts appear to show the couple holidaying again in Bali in February, March and April.
“Was a big fan week, Friday night rewards,” Mr Smith captioned a post with his wife on April 27 – three days before he was arrested.
Mr Smith previously worked as a commercial fishermen in Port Lincoln and at the Lower Eyre Peninsula Council.
A Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade spokesman said the department was providing consular assistance to an Australian man detained in Bali.
“Owing to our privacy obligations we are unable to provide further comment,” he said.
The Advertiser understands the assistance could include visits to prisons to monitor welfare, liaison with local authorities regarding the Australian’s wellbeing, provision of lists of local lawyers and assistance communicating with family members or nominated contacts.