How meth-accused SA dad Troy Smith’s fairytale romance turned into a Bali nightmare

Troy Smith has been questioned over the origin of a package allegedly containing 3.15g of meth that turned his Bali love story into a nightmare.

Just six months ago, South Australian father Troy Smith wed the woman who “turned his life around” after a chance Tinder meeting from Cairns to Kenya.

But their fairytale quickly turned into a nightmare after a raid of the couple’s Bali hotel room two weeks ago, with Mr Smith now facing life in prison if found guilty of drug possession and trafficking charges.

Just weeks before his arrest, Mr Smith’s wife Tracy Ijusa Musiega – now Tracy Smith – 31, said her “favourite place in the world” was next to him. Now, she has been allowed just 15 minutes to visit her husband in custody.

On Wednesday, Mr Smith’s lawyer Sienny Karmana said he was “doing okay” as he entered his second week in custody at Balinese police headquarters.

Mr Karmana said Mr Smith remained adamant a package allegedly filled with 3.15g of meth was sent “as a gift” by a friend, but had not provided any further explanation to authorities about who that friend was.

The return address listed on the package was that of Mr Smith’s rented unit in Cairns.

In a video shared to TikTok, Mr Smith opened up about "hitting rock bottom" before meeting his new wife Tracy. Picture: TikTok

Mr and Mrs Smith tied the knot in December 2023. Picture: Instagram

Born in Balaklava, Mr Smith previously lived in Port Lincoln with his two children and ex-partner, working as a commercial fisherman and at the Lower Eyre Peninsula Council.

But, after hitting “rock bottom” as he battled with addiction and became estranged from his children, Mr Smith moved to Cairns, in Far North Queensland, in 2022.

In a video shared to TikTok in January this year, Mr Smith, 49, said his wife Tracy Ijusa Musiega – now Tracy Smith – 31, had given him a new lease on life when he was at his lowest.

Mr Smith said he met his now-wife, who is from Nairobi, the capital of Kenya, “in the most bizarre circumstances” through Tinder while he was living in Cairns.

He proposed to Mrs Smith in Bali in October last year and, by December, the couple had tied the knot in her home country of Kenya.

“I’ve since been to Bali, proposed to her, been to Nairobi and married her … and it’s amazing,” he said.

“You just think life’s done, you’ve had this one and nothing much is gonna happen, you just meander along and die a quiet death at, whatever, 75, achieve nothing, no motivation, nothing exciting in the later part of your life.

“But now I’m loving life … this girl, she gives me motivation to do everything.

“She’s my life now and I’m just so happy for the gods, however they lined our ducks up, thank you.”

Mr Smith said he “absolutely hit rock bottom” after suffering from chronic alcoholism.

“You couldn’t have drunk any more than me,” Mr Smith said.

“I didn’t see any way out and probably should be dead to be honest.

“That caused a lot of upset for me. Kids don’t speak to me anymore. That was the fallout from that and you just get so down you just trundle along in life.”

The couple travelled regularly, spending time in Bali and Mrs Smith’s home city of Nairobi. Picture: Instagram

Formerly a fisherman in Port Lincoln, Mr Smith started a “new life” in Cairns in 2022, where he met Mrs Smith via dating app Tinder. Picture: Instagram

Mrs Smith has shared a number of videos to her own social media platforms about her blossoming relationship, describing Mr Smith as “her husband, her life forever”.

“My favourite place in the world is next to you,” Ms Smith captioned a photo of her and Mr Smith on October 20.

The couple had been in Legian, an area north of the Indonesian party capital of Kuta, for a week before Balinese police allegedly discovered 3.15g of meth inside a package labelled “lubricant” that had been delivered to the accommodation.

“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.

The return address listed on the package was that of Mr Smith’s rented unit in Cairns.

Mr Smith has denied knowing there were illicit drugs inside the package and told authorities the delivery was unsolicited.

Mrs Smith was released by police after being arrested alongside her husband and is not accused of any wrongdoing.

After being turned away from visiting her husband in emotional scenes on Monday, Mrs Smith returned to the police station where her husband is being held in custody on Tuesday, carrying what appeared to be lunch boxes and bags of goods.

A source close to Mr Smith’s family, who wished to remain anonymous, said relatives had flown into Bali to support him, while Mr Smith has now engaged John McLeod, the high-profile ‘fixer’ who helped free Schapelle Corby.

Mr McLeod has helped orchestrate the release of numerous Aussies from Indonesian prisons, including assisting Corby out of the island’s infamous Kerobokan jail — where Mr Smith could end up in a matter of weeks if his request to enter a rehabilitation centre is rejected.

The private consultant said the focus for now was on his client’s wellbeing, as the self-confessed alcoholic and methamphetamine addict battled symptoms of withdrawal while in custody.

Mrs Smith was holding up okay under the “overwhelming” circumstances, Mr McLeod said.

Originally published as How meth-accused SA dad Troy Smith’s fairytale romance turned into a Bali nightmare