Aussie tech boss Lamar Ahchee allegedly busted with 1.8kg of cocaine in Bali, shipped from the UK

An Australian man arrested in Bali for allegedly trying to smuggle 1.8kg of cocaine into Indonesia has been identified, as fresh details emerge about his ties to an international drug ring.

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An Australian man arrested in Bali for allegedly trying to smuggle 1.8kg of cocaine into Indonesia has been identified as 43-year-old business manager Lamar Ahchee, and he could face the death penalty.

Mr Ahchee, who is originally from Cairns in Far North Queensland, was apprehended by drug squads at an apartment in Canggu, in southern Bali, on Thursday after he allegedly received two suspicious packages from England.

Bali Police spokesperson Senior Commander Ariasandy Mr Ahchee was “part of an international drug ring”.

Lamar Ahchee, 43, has been arrested at an apartment in Bali after customs officials allegedly found a suspicious package that was addressed to him.

Lamar Ahchee has lived and worked in Indonesia since about 2019, according to his online profiles.

Lamar Ahchee, 43, is pictured with local police on Monday.

Police documents, seen by this masthead, allege the cocaine was concealed inside two packages – a stationery box and a gold Lindt chocolate box.

The chocolate box allegedly contained 54 packages with about 8.32g of cocaine inside each one, rolled inside chocolate truffle wrappers.

During a local press conference on Monday, Bali police chief Inspector General Daniel Adityajaya said the packages were sent to Indonesia on April 12.

He alleged the first package was sent from an address in Runwell, east of London, to ‘Alex and Julie’ at an address in Kuta Utara, near Canggu.

The second package was allegedly sent from an address in Braintree, also east of London, to ‘Dave Jones’ in Kuta Utara.

Mr Ahchee allegedly received both packages.

Lamar Ahchee is pictured in an orange prison jumpsuit before a crowd of locals, behind the cocaine he allegedly tried to smuggle into Indonesia.

Police allege the cocaine (pictured) was encased in two boxes, including a Lindt chocolate box.

Lamar Ahchee was the alleged recipient of both packages, even though they had two different names and addresses on the front.

Customs officers allegedly found the drugs once the package was X-rayed upon arrival in Indonesia, on May 20.

The following day, police allege Mr Ahchee asked a driver to collect the packages from the post office.

On May 22, they met at a restaurant and Mr Ahchee allegedly took both packages back to Canggu.

He was arrested during a controlled delivery operation with drug squads, during which he allegedly sustained injuries while resisting arrest.

In March, he announced that he was going to work at a large restaurant and bar complex. By November, he’d announced his departure from the business.

Mr Ahchee was the general manager of Canggu restaurant Brick Lane Bali until November, when he stepped down after about eight months on the job.

“Our new project Opening Soon early 2024 in the heart of Canggu. This is a cutting edge venue design and I can’t wait until we get to the excitement with our menu and cocktails,” he wrote on Facebook last March.

In November, he wrote: “As I step away from General Manager at Brick Lane to embark on new adventures, I want to take a moment to reflect on this incredible journey.

“From a slab of concrete to conceptualising a new vision, redesigning, and eventually transforming this space into a true spaceship, it’s been a ride that I will always be proud of.

Lamar Ahchee allegedly resisted arrest when drug squads arrived at his apartment in Canggu.

“It has been an honour to be part of something so transformative, and I am truly proud of all that we’ve accomplished together. Thank you to the incredible team I had the privilege of building at Brick Lane — your dedication and hard work made all the difference.”

Online profiles reveal Mr Ahchee has also worked as the director and co-founder of technology groups in Jakarta and Bali from about 2019.

Prior to that, he worked for marketing companies in Sydney. In Indonesia, penalties for large-scale drug trafficking and possession can range from life imprisonment to execution.

It comes just months after the remaining members of the Bali Nine were released from jail following a botched heroin smuggling operation in 2005.

Bali Nine members Scott Rush, Matthew Norman, Si-Yi Chen, Martin Stephens, and Michael Czugaj. Picture: Supplied

Scott Rush, Michael Czugaj, Renae Lawrence and Martin Stephens were arrested at Bali airport with more than 8kg of heroin strapped to their bodies, along with one of the ringleaders Andrew Chan.

Myuran Sukumaran, Matthew Norman, Si Yi Chen and Tan Duc Thanh Nguyen were arrested a hotel in Kuta.

Chan and Sukumaran were sentenced to death for their role as the ringleaders and were executed in April 2015.

Left to right, back row: Martin Eric Stephens, Michael William Czugaj, Scott Anthony Rush, Matthew James Norman, and Si Yi Chen watch as Indonesian officials sign their transfer agreement in December 2024. Picture: AFP

Others who were originally sentenced to death managed to get their sentences reduced to life imprisonment on appeal.

Lawrence was the only member who didn’t get a death sentence or life behind bars, and was released in 2018.

Nguyen died in hospital in Jakarta in 2018 from cancer.

Czugaj, Norman and Chen, Stephens, and Rush were finally released in December, having spent about 20 years locked up in Indonesian jails.

Originally published as Aussie tech boss Lamar Ahchee allegedly busted with 1.8kg of cocaine in Bali, shipped from the UK