From Sydney VIP to Bali jail: Inside Lamar Ahchee’s lavish life before $1.14m coke bust

Lamar Ahchee was a crypto enthusiast who rubbed shoulders with Sydney VIPs and ran his own talent agency, before it all came crashing down in Bali.

EXCLUSIVE

A self-described entrepreneur was a crypto enthusiast and VIP “wannabe” at the helm of a series of start-ups, before he was allegedly busted for trafficking $1.14m worth of cocaine into Bali.

Lamar Ahchee, 43, grew up playing soccer in Cairns, but he quickly moved to a $1.5m unit in Sydney’s affluent Bellevue Hill and worked as the VIP manager at high profile nightclub Marquee, where he was able to rub shoulders with city elites.

He maintained his high-flying profile until it all came crashing down last Thursday when he wound up in custody in Bali, telling local authorities that he was a drug addict who was “framed” for allegedly smuggling 1.8kg of cocaine into the country in two Lindt chocolate boxes.

Lamar Ahchee was arrested at an apartment in Bali after customs officials allegedly caught him with suspicious packages.

Lamar Ahchee could face the death penalty after being arrested in Bali for allegedly trying to smuggle 1.5kg of cocaine into Indonesia.

Lamar Ahchee lived in a $1.5m unit in Bellevue Hill before he moved to Indonesia in 2017.

On Wednesday, new footage emerged of Mr Ahchee in a prison jumpsuit and balaclava being shoved through a Bali jail by guards, moments after a 20-minute phone conversation with his mother.

A former acquaintance who knew him from his days at Marquee told this masthead he was an aspiring socialite with an “entrepreneurial mindset”.

“He knew everyone,” they said.

“He was a very lovely guy, very hospitable and welcoming, friends with everyone, but he had that entrepreneurial mindset – he wanted to be someone, a ‘wannabe’ is the best way of describing him.”

By the time he launched the celebrity agency LA Talent Management in 2013 and jettisoned himself into the world of VIPs, he had a bachelor of business and seven months’ experience as a public relations co-ordinator at Qantas under his belt. He also had a Hebrew chest tattoo, which translates to “leadership, courage, character”.

Former Australian football player Zenon Caravella was also represented by LA Talent Management (pictured), and told this masthead he was saddened by the news of Mr Ahchee’s arrest.

Lamar Ahchee started a business called Carpe Diem Co, he applied for a Carpe Diem trademark in 2005 (pictured).

He had also tried in 2005 to trademark ‘carpe diem’ – a Latin phrase meaning ‘seize the day’, which was a clothing label that didn’t appear to produce any goods.

His time at Marquee knew enough high society figures to help him build a profile by placing their photos on his website he represented some, others were friends who had no real business dealings with him.

The former acquaintance said, “I’m pretty sure the company was just a website, it didn’t do anything,” but former Australian football player Zenon Caravella told this masthead: “Everything he promised while he had the talent agency, he delivered on – sponsorships, event appearances, etc.”

“I’ve known Lamar since I was a little child, we played football and went to school together,” he said.

“He is a great guy and comes from a very loving family. We’re deeply saddened by this news and hope he is getting all the assistance he needs at this time.”

Lamar Ahchee said on social media that he was looking forward to his girlfriend joining him in Bali.

Lamar Ahchee has a Hebrew tattoo on his chest that translates to “leadership, courage, character”.

The agency closed in 2016, with records indicating it was the second in a long line of companies where he was either listed as the founder, manager or director – many of which don’t exist anymore.

While managing the talent agency site, online profiles suggest Mr Ahchee was the senior key account manager of Elise Sport Properties – a functioning entertainment agency, and the director of marketing at luxury floating bar Seadeck Australia.

He also co-founded Behind the Rope, which was an invitation-only “private lifestyle platform for high achievers, affluent in-demand individuals, influencers and high profile personalities in business, politics, culture, entertainment and sport”.

There is no record of Behind the Rope in ASIC, or anywhere else.

Lamar Ahchee is escorted by Bali police. Picture: Lukman S. Bintoro

Lamar Ahchee pictured in orange, being escorted by Bali police during a press conference. Picture: Lukman S. Bintoro

He moved to Jakarta in 2017 and co-founded True Colors Tech, which was spruiked online as “the world’s first media company with leading real-time reporting Smart LCD screen Delivery box displaying HD Advertisement simultaneously throughout major cities in Indonesia”.

The company apparently ran until May 2024. The company website still exists, but attempts to visit the site were met with severe security warnings.

By 2021, he was the co-founder of now-defunct digital advertising agency True Colors Tech and reposting a number of tweets about cryptocurrency during the height of the NFT boom.

“Hustle and heart will set you apart. You don’t know how to live if you don’t know how to give. Entrepreneur life,” his X profile read.

Lamar Ahchee was arrested in front of his holiday rental (pictured) after allegedly receiving a package containing 1.8kg of cocaine. Picture: Lukman S. Bintoro

By June 2023, he had moved to Bali and started as the general manager of Brick Lane, a bar and restaurant “inspired by Sydney’s restaurant and bar scene” and named after the East London cultural precinct.

He lasted about eight months there before he resigned, along with a number of other staff members. An employee who worked directly under Mr Ahchee at Brick Lane was shocked when he saw his former boss’ photo on Facebook.

“He was a kind person, nice with all the staff, he sometimes came back to Brick Lane for dinner,” they said.

Mr Ahchee is in custody, but he has not been charged.

If convicted, he faces the death penalty.