Aussie tourists warned about smuggling drugs into Bali as Brazilian teen faces death penalty

A younger tourist could experience the loss of life penalty soon after she allegedly tried to smuggle medicine into Bali, prompting a renewed warning to Australian travellers.

Brazilian nationwide Manuela Vitoria de Araujo Farias, 19, promises she was tricked by a gang after a few kilograms of cocaine were allegedly observed in her luggage when she arrived on the well-known Indonesian island past month.

Bali’s firing squad could execute her if she is convicted of trafficking under Indonesia’s stringent anti-drug laws.

She was arrested at Bali Global Airport on January 27, just times just after an West Australian browsing and diving instructor who smuggled medicines hidden in his anus into Indonesia narrowly averted the death penalty.

Jeffrey Welton, 52, was arrested at the exact Bali airport past September after he was observed smuggling 8g of heroin and .34g of meth.

He was lately sentenced to eight months in a rehabilitation facility immediately after a decide dominated he was an addict alternatively than a drug trafficker.

Farias’ attorney promises her shopper was tricked into cooperating by gangsters.

Farias promises she only visited the island following listening to of temples wherever they pray for the unwell, Bali Situations reported.

The teen’s mom experienced just lately suffered a stroke, and Farias claims she was making an attempt to seek out Buddhist prayers for a treatment.

‘They stated that she could pray in the temples to question for her mother’s healing,’ the attorney mentioned.

The publication additional police in Brazil have refused to examine the position of the investigation into the alleged criminals that gave Farias the medications.

Countless numbers of Australians have flocked to Bali given that the holiday break island’s intercontinental borders reopened in March 2022 for the 1st time in two many years.

All around 1.23 million Australians frequented Bali in 2019 prior to worldwide borders shut down thanks to the Covid-19 pandemic.

The dying penalty exists for many crimes in Indonesia like drug smuggling, according to Australian federal government web-site Smart Traveller. 

Drug possession and banned functions these as smoking in a community position and gambling also can consequence in jail time.

‘Penalties for drug offences include hefty fines, extended jail sentences and the dying penalty. Law enforcement target vacationer places,’ the web page states.

‘You might facial area large fines or jail for possessing even little quantities of prescription drugs, like cannabis. 

Hashish-based mostly products and solutions these types of as hashish oil, hemp, CBD, THC, hash and edibles are also banned in Indonesia, such as for medicinal needs.

‘A healthcare prescription does not make it authorized. If you choose these types of products and solutions to Indonesia or obtain or use them in Indonesia, you can be arrested and face imprisonment, fines, deportation or the loss of life penalty,’ Good Traveller warns.

‘Police target unlawful drug use and possession throughout Indonesia. Police typically concentrate on common sites and venues in Bali and Jakarta.’

Travellers are also warned verify with a medical professional or the Indonesian embassy before using any prescription drugs such as sleeping supplements into the place as a lot of psychotropic medications and painkillers are banned and could be confiscated on arrival.

‘Make confident you carry a prescription that handles the amount of treatment you might be taking with you,’ 

Using tobacco is banned in a lot of community locations in Bali and could direct to imprisonment and a wonderful.

Gambling is also illegal in Indonesia and could final result in a stint behind bars.

Australians Andrew Chan and Myuran Sukumaran have been executed in Indonesia in 2015 as the convicted ringleaders of the so-referred to as Bali 9 drug smugglers.

The nine Australians ended up arrested seeking to smuggle 8.3kg of heroin to Australia on a flight out of Bali’s airport in 2005.

Of the remaining seven only a person, Renae Lawrence, has been unveiled from jail when a different, Tan Duc Thanh Nguyen, died in prison of most cancers.

In Oct 2004, Australian Schapelle Corby grew to become a house title when the then 27-12 months-previous splendor scholar was arrested at Bali’s Ngurah Rai Airport with 4.2kg of cannabis in her boogie board bag, a criminal offense she has normally denied committing.

Seven months later, the environment watched on as Corby famously broke down in the courtroom even though remaining sentenced to 20 years in prison.

Just after a collection of sentence reductions, Corby was unveiled on parole in February 2014 immediately after 9 a long time driving bars.  

Following three yrs residing in Bali, she was deported back again to Australia in 2017 and is now a social media influencer on the Gold Coastline.

Corby posted a new video clip with tips for Aussie travellers heading to Bali.

‘If you’re going to vacation, make positive you hold your bags locked,’ she warned.

‘Remember my name… Corby… and never consume way too substantially.’