Australian man arrested for allegedly attempting to smuggle cocaine into Bali

Australian man Lamar Ahchee, 43, is facing the death penalty for allegedly trying to smuggle 1.7kg of cocaine into Bali.

Bali police have arrested an Australian man for allegedly trying to smuggle 1.7kg of cocaine into Indonesia.

Lamar Ahchee, 43, from Cairns was apprehended by the drug squad in an apartment in Canggu, south Indonesia, last Thursday.

Local media Bhinneka Nusantara reported Mr Ahchee allegedly used the postal service to send cocaine from the UK to Bali where it was supposed to be distributed.

Police chief inspector General Daniel Adityajaya told media two packages were sent from England on April 12 to addresses in North Kuta and Badung Regency.

He said both packages arrived at Denpasar on Tuesday and were X-rayed by customs officers who suspected the packages contained narcotics.

Australian man Lamar Ahchee, 43, has been arrested in Bali after customs officials allegedly found two packages of cocaine weighing 1.7kg. Picture: Facebook

Customs co-ordinated a controlled delivery with the Bali Police Narcotics Directorate and had surveillance on the delivery of the two packages.

Bali police allege Mr Ahchee contacted two drivers to drop collect and drop off the packages at an address in Badung Regency.

Police arrested Mr Ahchee about 11.30am on Thursday when he received the two packages.

Police also found a digital scale, plastic and a mobile phone in the accused’s room.

Local media reported Ahchee claimed he did not know who the narcotics belonged to and he received orders from a person called “Boss” to accept the package and distribute it for 50m rupiah, about $A4700.

Importing or distributing class 1 narcotics in Indonesia carries the death penalty.

Australian man Lamar Ahchee could face a death sentence after he was arrested in North Kuta for trying to smuggle 1.7kg of cocaine into Bali. Picture: 7News

“With the secured evidence of 1,713.92g net estimated to be worth 12 billion rupiah, we have successfully saved 2666 lives from the threat of the dangers of drugs,” police chief Adityaiaya said.

He told media this arrest proved illicit drug trafficking was still rampant Bali.

“Drugs are our common enemy, the Bali Police and its ranks are committed to fighting and eradicating all forms of drug trafficking in the Bali Police Area,” he said.

The Australian is currently behind bars at the Bali Police Detention Centre.

Lamar Ahchee’s social media profile shows he moved to Bali in 2017 and worked in hospitality before he stepped away in October to start new adventures. Picture: Facebook

A Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade spokesperson said they were providing consular assistance to an Australian detained in Bali.

“Owing to our privacy obligations we are unable to provide further comment,” a spokesperson said.

Mr Ahchee’s social media profile shows he is from Cairns and moved to Bali in 2017 where he worked as a marketing director at Omnia Day Club.

He worked was the general manager at Brick Lane in Canggu until October last year but stepped away to “embark on new adventures.”

Originally published as Australian man arrested for allegedly attempting to smuggle cocaine into Bali