A young tourist might face the death penalty after she reportedly attempted to bring narcotics into Bali, prompting an updated travel advisory for Australians.
Manuela Vitoria de Araujo Farias, a 19-year-old Brazilian, alleges she was duped by a gang after three kilograms of cocaine were allegedly discovered in her luggage upon her arrival on the popular Indonesian island last month.
If convicted of drug trafficking under Indonesia’s stringent anti-drug laws, she could be executed by Bali’s firing squad.
She was caught on January 27 at Bali International Airport, just days after a West Australian surfing and diving teacher who smuggled drugs into Indonesia concealed in his anus nearly escaped the death penalty.
Jeffrey Welton, 52, was caught at the same Bali airport last September for smuggling 8 grams of heroin and 0.34 grams of methamphetamine.
A judge recently sentenced him to eight months in a rehabilitation center after determining he was a drug addict and not a drug trafficker.
The attorney for Farias asserts that her client was duped into cooperating by criminals.
The Bali Times said that Farias only visited the island after hearing about temples where people pray for the ill.
The mother of the youngster had recently suffered a stroke, and according to Farias, she was seeking Buddhist prayers for a cure.
The attorney stated, “They said she could pray in the temples for her mother’s healing.”
According to the report, Brazilian authorities have refused to comment on the investigation into the alleged drug dealers who supplied Farias.
Thousands of Australians have rushed to Bali since March 2022, when the island’s international borders reopened after a two-year closure.
In 2019, over 1.23 million Australians visited Bali prior to the closure of international borders due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
According to the Australian government website Smart Traveller, numerous offences in Indonesia carry the death penalty, including drug smuggling.
Possession of illegal substances and prohibited actions such as smoking in public and gambling can also result in jail time.
‘Drug offenses are punishable by hefty fines, lengthy prison terms, and the death penalty. The police target tourist destinations, according to the website.
Possession of even tiny amounts of drugs, like as marijuana, may result in hefty penalties or jail time.
Products derived from cannabis, including cannabis oil, hemp, CBD, THC, hash, and edibles, are likewise prohibited in Indonesia, even for medicinal purposes.
‘A medical prescription does not make it legal. Smart Traveler warns that if you bring such items into Indonesia or purchase or use them there, you risk arrest, jail, fines, deportation, or the death penalty.
The Indonesian police target illegal drug use and possession. The police frequently target famous locations and venues in Bali and Jakarta.
Many psychiatric drugs and painkillers are prohibited and may be confiscated upon entry. Travelers are advised to consult a physician or the Indonesian embassy before bringing any prescription prescriptions, such as sleeping pills, into the country.
‘Be sure to carry a valid prescription for the quantity of medication you’re carrying,’
Many public sites in Bali prohibit smoking, which is punishable by jail and a fine.
Gambling is likewise prohibited in Indonesia and is punishable by imprisonment.
Andrew Chan and Myuran Sukumaran were executed in Indonesia in 2015 for their roles as ringleaders of the infamous Bali Nine narcotics traffickers.
In 2005, nine Australians were apprehended attempting to transport 8.3 kilograms of heroin to Australia on an aircraft from Bali’s airport.
Only one of the remaining seven, Renae Lawrence, has been released from prison, while cancer-stricken Tan Duc Thanh Nguyen died in prison.
Schapelle Corby, an Australian beauty student, became a household celebrity in October 2004 when she was caught at Bali’s Ngurah Rai Airport with 4.2kg of marijuana in her boogie board bag, a crime she has always denied doing.
Seven months later, the world witnessed Corby’s infamous courtroom breakdown as he was sentenced to 20 years in prison.
After nine years in prison and a series of sentence modifications, Corby was released on parole in February 2014.
After residing in Bali for three years, she was deported back to Australia in 2017 and is now a Gold Coast social media personality.
Corby recently uploaded a video with advise for Australians traveling to Bali.
“If you’re traveling, make sure your bags are locked,” she said.
Remember my name is Corby, and don’t drink excessively.
What Australians are prohibited from doing in Bali
Drugs
The penalties for drug crimes are harsh. They involve capital punishment.
Possession of even tiny amounts of drugs, such as marijuana, can result in hefty penalties or jail time. In Indonesia, cannabis-based goods, including cannabis oil, hemp, CBD, THC, hash, and edibles, remain prohibited, including for medicinal purposes. A prescription does not make marijuana lawful. If you bring these items into Indonesia or buy or use them there, you risk arrest, imprisonment, fines, deportation, or the death penalty.
Some prescription drugs available in Australia are prohibited in Indonesia.
Magic mushrooms are prohibited. The police in Indonesia strive to prohibit their dissemination.
Police target illegal drug use and possession across Indonesia. In Bali and Jakarta, the police frequently target popular spots and venues.
Other rules
In Indonesia, the death sentence exists for numerous crimes.
You must always carry identification, such as an Australian passport or a Resident’s Stay Permit, in accordance with Indonesian legislation.
Gambling is illegal
It is strictly illegal to smoke or sell cigarettes and tobacco in public locations like as tourist sites, hospitals, temples, and public transportation.
Photographing is sometimes prohibited in Indonesia. Respect signs prohibiting photographing. When in doubt, consult with local authority