A 21-year-old Ukrainian national, identified as Kateryna Vakarova, was arrested at I Gusti Ngurah Rai International Airport in Bali after customs officials discovered nearly two kilograms of narcotics in her belongings. Authorities confirmed that she was carrying 1,991.25 grams of 4-CMC, a synthetic drug commonly referred to as blue safir, concealed inside her backpack.
“We arrested a foreigner with the initials KV on Thursday, August 3, 2025 at the international arrival terminal,” said Associate Investigator of the Bali Provincial National Narcotics Agency (BNNP), Tri Kuncoro, during a press conference at his office, Wednesday (9/9/2025) as reported by detikBali.
Officials from Bali Customs explained that Vakarova initially showed no suspicious behavior when she landed at the airport. However, during a routine inspection of her luggage, officers detected the illicit substance, classified in Indonesia as a category one narcotic.
Refusal to Provide Information
Following the discovery, customs officers interrogated Vakarova to determine the origin of the drugs and her role in their transport. Authorities reported that she refused to provide any explanation. As a result, she was immediately taken into custody for further investigation.
“We suspect he (Vakarova) is a kurir. But, until now he doesn’t want to admit it because he feels it’s not his thing,” said Tri.
Tri, a senior official involved in the case, stated that investigators suspect the narcotics were intended for distribution to foreign nationals from Eastern Europe residing in Bali. He added that the assumption has not yet been confirmed because Vakarova has not provided significant testimony regarding her involvement.
“Here, there are many communities of Eastern Europeans. Russians, Ukrainians,” he said.
Legal Consequences and Charges
Under Indonesian narcotics law, possession and attempted distribution of large quantities of category one narcotics can carry the death penalty. Vakarova has been charged under Article 113, paragraph 2 of Law Number 35 of 2009 on Narcotics. Authorities confirmed that she remains in custody pending the legal process.
Seizure and Destruction of Evidence
The confiscated narcotics have since been destroyed by the Bali Provincial National Narcotics Agency (BNNP). Officials emphasized the seriousness of the case given the type and volume of drugs recovered.
According to Tri, blue safir is one of the most expensive synthetic narcotics available in Indonesia. It is second only to cocaine, which is sold at approximately 5 million rupiah per gram. Blue safir itself commands a price of around 1.5 million rupiah per gram.
“Immediate destruction. We destroyed the 4-CMC,” kata Tri.
“So, its use is dissolved in water and then drunk. The effects are like MDMA (ecstasy) or amphetamines. That’s the stimulant effect, addictive, so that it’s strong all day,” said Tri.
“The market share is indeed foreigners. Because the price is expensive,” he added.
Background on Blue Safir
Authorities explained that blue safir is a chemical compound derived from cathinone. Users typically consume the substance by dissolving it in water before drinking. The drug has been circulating in Indonesia since 2017, with most consumers reportedly foreign nationals from Eastern Europe.
As of now, Vakarova is facing prosecution under Indonesian narcotics law, with investigators continuing to examine her possible connections to drug trafficking networks. No further details regarding potential accomplices or distribution channels have been confirmed.
