Accused Bali cocaine smuggler son of an ex-top cop, as a school mate speaks out

A former tech boss facing the death penalty over an alleged attempt to smuggle 1.8kg of cocaine into Bali is the son of a retired police officer it can be revealed as an ex-schoolmate breaks their silence.

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A former tech boss who could face the death penalty after allegedly smuggling 1.8kg of cocaine into Bali is the son of a retired police officer, it can be revealed.

Lamar Ahchee, 43, was arrested on Thursday by drug squads at an apartment in Canggu, in southern Bali, after he allegedly received two suspicious packages from England.

Police documents, seen by this masthead, allege the cocaine was concealed inside two gold Lindt chocolate boxes and local police have alleged he was offered 50m Indonesian rupiah, the equivalent of A$4700, to receive and distribute the drugs.

Mr Ahchee is originally from Cairns, and his father is police officer Senior Constable Les Ahchee of the Mareeba Road Policing Unit.

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

Lamar Aaron Ahchee is pictured being escorted by Bali Police on Monday. Picture: Lukman S. Bintoro

A former St Augustine’s Catholic College schoolmate, who also played sport against Mr Ahchee, said he was “very shocked” to hear about his arrest.

“I held him in high regard,” he said.

“He was a very good soccer player, a very good student, he wasn’t someone who was in trouble or anything, I was very shocked when I heard the news.

“I can’t remember what Lamar did around Cairns, but I think he took off not long after high school.”

Lamar Ahchee playing for the Marlin Coast Rangers in 2008.

Mr Ahchee played soccer for various clubs throughout the Far North, as recently as 2008 when he helped Marlin Coast beat Mareeba, scoring a goal in a premier division grand final.

His online profiles show he graduated St Augustine’s Catholic College in 2000, studied a bachelor of business at APM College of Business and Communication between 2009 and 2011.

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

Lamar Ahchee has been arrested at an apartment in Bali after customs officials allegedly found a suspicious package that was addressed to him, he could face the death penalty after being arrested in Bali for allegedly trying to smuggle 1.5kg of cocaine into Indonesia.

The first package was allegedly 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.

Despite the different names on the packages, Mr Ahchee allegedly received both packages.

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.

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

Originally published as Accused Bali cocaine smuggler son of an ex-top cop, as a school mate speaks out