An Australian man could face the death penalty or life in prison after being arrested in Bali on serious drug charges.
The 43-year-old from Sydney was taken into custody after Indonesian police found 1.8kg of cocaine during a raid of his home.
Authorities say the arrest followed an investigation into two suspicious packages sent from the UK.
Australia’s Department of Foreign Affairs (DFAT) has confirmed it is providing the man with consular support ahead of his trial.
Drug smuggle
The Aussie has been accused of using “foreign postal services” to smuggle two separate packages from the UK into Indonesia last week.
The packages were allegedly “disguised as stationery and dolls,” and flagged as suspicious by international border security officials.
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It’s alleged “an online motorbike taxi driver” delivered the parcels to his villa, where he was later arrested.
Police seized 206 individual packages of drugs. They estimate the street value to be more than $AU1.1 million.
During the raid of the villa, officers also allege they found a digital scale, bundles of plastic bags, and a mobile phone.
According to Bali authorities, the man said he “only carried out orders from someone,” who paid him around 50 million Indonesian rupiah ($AU4,700).
Indonesia enforces some of the toughest drug laws in the world, with penalties including life imprisonment and the death penalty.
While DFAT said it can not provide further details on its involvement in this case due to its “privacy obligations”, it confirmed it is providing the accused with consular support.
