British nationals could face firing squad for smuggling cocaine into Bali
Three British nationals are facing the possibility of death by firing squad after they were caught smuggling over two pounds of cocaine onto the island of Bali in Indonesia. Jonathan Christopher Collyer, 28, and Lisa Ellen Stocker, 29, were arrested on February 1st after customs officers discovered suspicious items disguised as food packages in their luggage.
During a court hearing in Denpasar, prosecutor I Made Dipa Umbara revealed that lab tests confirmed the presence of nearly a kilogram of cocaine hidden in packets of “Angel Delight” powdered dessert mix in Collyer and Stocker’s luggage. The cocaine was estimated to be worth about $368,000.
Two days after the initial arrests, 31-year-old Phineas Ambrose Float was also apprehended following a delivery sting operation orchestrated by law enforcement. Float was caught receiving the drug from Collyer and Stocker in a hotel parking lot in Denpasar.
The trio had successfully smuggled cocaine into Bali on two previous occasions before being apprehended on their third attempt, according to Ponco Indriyo, the deputy director of the Bali Police Narcotics Unit.
The charges against the three British nationals were formally announced in a Bali courtroom, where they could potentially face the death penalty if convicted. In Indonesia, drug smugglers are sometimes executed by firing squad.
The trial has been adjourned until June 10th, when witnesses will provide testimony. Currently, there are 530 people on death row in Indonesia, including 96 foreigners, many of whom were convicted for drug-related offenses.
The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime has identified Indonesia as a major drug-smuggling hub, despite having strict drug laws. International drug syndicates often target the country’s young population due to the potential for high profits.
In a separate case, Lindsay Sandiford, a 69-year-old British national, has been on death row in Indonesia for over a decade after being caught with more than eight pounds of cocaine in her luggage at Bali’s airport in 2012.
Indonesia has executed drug offenders in the past, with the last executions taking place in July 2016. The country’s strict drug laws and severe penalties serve as a deterrent for drug smuggling activities.
The case of the three British nationals highlights the consequences of drug trafficking in Indonesia and the severity of the penalties that offenders may face. The trial will continue to unfold as the legal process moves forward.
