Australian Expat Living In Top Bali Tourism Village Arrested On Major Drug Charges 

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Bali Police have confirmed the arrest of a 43-year-old Australian national on major drug charges. Lamar Ahchee, an expat living in South Bali, has been taken into police custody for allegedly attempting to smuggle 1.7 kg of cocaine into the tourism resort area. 

Bali Police Chief Inspector General Daniel Adityajaya confirmed that two packages, now confirmed to contain cocaine, were shipped from the UK on the 12th of April to an address in North Kuta, Badung Regency.

Chief Inspector General Adityajaya confirmed that the packages arrived in Denpasar on Tuesday 20th May and were x-rayed by customs officials after it was suspected that the packages contained illegal substances. 

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Customs teams, along with Bali Police, carried out a controlled delivery on Tuesday, 22nd May, in coordination with the Bali Police Narcotics Directorate, who conducted surveillance of the two packages at every stage of the delivery process. Bali Police have stated that Ahchee was in communication with two drivers to arrange pick up and drop off at his address in Badung Regency.

During the raid of the property and subsequent arrest, Bali Police took in to evidence a digital scale and a mobile phone from Ahchee’s room. According to local sources, Ahchee claimed that he did not know who sent the packages, but that he received orders from a person known only to him as “Boss” and he was told to distribute the order. 

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Chief Inspector General Adityajaya told reporters “With the secured evidence of 1,713.92g net, estimated to be worth IDR 12 billion, we have successfully saved 2,666 lives from the threat of the dangers of drugs.” In Indonesia being found guilty of distributing or importing Class A drugs can carry the death penalty or life imprisonment. 

Chief Inspector General Adityajaya added, “Drugs are our common enemy, the Bali Police and its ranks are committed to fighting and eradicating all forms of drug trafficking in the Bali Police Area.” Ahchee remains in police custody at the Bali Police Detention Centre. 

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The Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade has confirmed that it is providing consular assistance to an Australian national detained in Bali Province. However, a spokesperson for the department told the media, “Owing to our privacy obligations, we are unable to provide further comment.”

Ahchee, from Cairns, relocated to Bali in 2017 taking up the role of Marketing Director at Omina Day Club, which is now rebranded and operates as Savaya in Uluwatu. He subsequently worked as General Manager at Brick Lane restaurant in Batu Bolong in Canggu until October 2024, when in a social media post he shared he was leaving the role to ‘embark on new adventures.”

As tourism continues to boom in Bali, there are increasing reports of illegal activity in top resort areas. Bali’s Governor Wayan Koster has been clear that he and his government are taking a ‘no mercy’ approach to foreigners who are caught breaking the law in the province.

Speaking to reporters in April 2025, Governor Koster revealed that all tourists and forgeries on the island must repeat Balinese culture and obey the law or face the consequences. His comments came after an American national had been apprehended while in the middle of a drug-fuelled rampage at a medical clinic in Uluwatu. The 27-year-old was swiftly deported and Governor Koster took the opportunity to reiterate Bali’s strict stance on drugs. 

Governor Koster told the media “This is the first momentum for me as Governor to take firm and tough action against foreign tourists who behave badly while in Bali Province.”

“So there is no mercy and we hope that the deportation carried out will be a lesson and a warning to all foreign tourists visiting Bali to obey the law, and respect Balinese culture and local wisdom.”

He added “Don’t let our tourism image be damaged by inappropriate behavior. If we follow other countries, they are orderly in their own countries. Try going to Japan, America, Europe, and Australia, their citizens are orderly in their own countries. But if they come to Bali then they are naughty? This is strange, so there is no mercy for this, this kind of thing must be dealt with firmly.”