Authorities at I Gusti Ngurah Rai International Airport, Bali, have arrested a 42-year-old Peruvian national identified as NS for attempting to smuggle cocaine and ecstasy into Indonesia. The arrest was made on Tuesday, August 12, 2025, after officers observed suspicious behavior during routine checks.
Director of Narcotics Investigation at Bali Police, Commissioner Radiant, confirmed the arrest, stating that customs and narcotics officers uncovered a total of 1,432.81 grams of cocaine and 85 ecstasy pills weighing 33.9 grams. The substances were estimated to have a street value of approximately Rp10 billion.
“And because they also appeared to be carrying something, it must have been visible from the CCTV. So that’s why at that time it was found from the movements of the person concerned to be suspected. So that the customs department conducts inspections and coordinates with us,” said Radiant.
Modus of Concealment
Investigations revealed that NS attempted to smuggle the narcotics by concealing them in unusual ways. Six plastic-wrapped packages of cocaine were hidden inside her bra, while three additional packages were placed in her underwear. Furthermore, narcotics were also concealed inside sextoys, which she carried internally to avoid detection.
Sunaryo, Head of Ngurah Rai Customs Office, explained that hiding narcotics in the body remains a method used by traffickers to evade X-ray detection. He emphasized that inspections continue to be conducted according to established procedures in order to respect human rights.
“To reveal it from the movements of suspicious perpetrators. For example, through X-ray (machine) and everything is not visible,” he said.
“Indeed, as technology advances, tools with all kinds of can detect (such as) X-rays and many other tools and all sorts of things, usually they go back to the traditional (mode). We must not let our guard down, what is the mode we must learn,” he explained.
Recruitment Through Dark Web Forum
Police investigations further showed that NS had been recruited in April 2025 by an individual identified only as PB through a forum on the dark web. NS was allegedly promised payment of 20,000 US dollars, equivalent to around Rp320 million, for transporting the narcotics to Bali.
According to police reports, PB instructed NS to collect a package at Bellvitge Metro station in Barcelona, Spain, on Sunday, August 10, 2025. The package contained the cocaine and sextoys later discovered by authorities. NS departed for Indonesia the following day, carrying the concealed narcotics on her person.
Arrival and Discovery
NS arrived at Bali’s Ngurah Rai Airport at 11:30 p.m. local time on August 12, 2025. During routine customs checks, officers identified the narcotics hidden in her clothing and belongings. The discovery led to her immediate arrest, and she is currently under investigation by the Bali Police.
Legal Consequences and Ongoing Investigation
Under Indonesian law, NS faces severe penalties if convicted. Commissioner Radiant confirmed that the suspect could face a minimum sentence of five years in prison and up to the maximum penalty of death.
The case also highlights an ongoing pattern of foreign nationals being involved in narcotics-related crimes in Bali. Between January and August 2025, authorities have arrested ten foreign nationals on drug-related charges.
Police are continuing to pursue PB, who is believed to be the main controller of the operation. As of now, PB remains at large.
The Peruvian suspect is in custody while further investigations proceed. Authorities have stated that efforts remain underway to track down the alleged recruiter. The case underscores the continued vigilance of customs and narcotics officers in detecting drug smuggling attempts at Bali’s main entry point
