Ukrainians and Russian Face Death Penalty in Indonesia for Drug Manufacturing

Indonesian police have arrested and charged four suspects for operating a hydroponic marijuana and mephedrone manufacturing laboratory in Bali. Among the suspects are two Ukrainians, identified only by their initials IV and MV, and a Russian national called KK, who was a drug marketer under a network called Hydra. They have been accused of producing and mixing materials to manufacture the drugs and face drug offenses that carry the death penalty and a fine of 10 billion rupiah ($622,000).

The Arrest and Confiscation of the Drugs

Earlier this month, the suspects were arrested at a villa in Bali where authorities found at least 10 kilograms of hydroponic marijuana, 684 grams of mephedrone, and 107 grams of cocaine. The police also confiscated ecstasy molding equipment the suspects attempted to use to produce drugs, but their production had always been unsuccessful.

Indonesia’s Tough Drug Laws

Indonesia has some of the world’s toughest drug laws that include the death penalty for drug traffickers. The country has dozens of traffickers on death row, including a British grandmother caught smuggling cocaine and a Philippine woman accused of smuggling heroin. According to Wahyu Widada, the head of Indonesia’s criminal investigation agency, the Indonesian suspect is also being investigated for a previous drug lab case in Jakarta’s capital.

Australian National also Faces Prison Sentence in Bali

Bali police have also charged a 49-year-old Australian national with consuming and attempting to sell crystal meth. If convicted, he faces up to 20 years in prison and a fine of more than $600,000.

Conclusion

The recent arrests in Bali demonstrate Indonesia’s uncompromising stance on the illicit drug trade and production. The involvement of foreigners is seen as a serious offense and can result in harsh penalties, including the death penalty. While the country’s tough drug laws may serve as a deterrent, critics argue that drug addiction should be viewed as a health issue and not a criminal one.

Originally Post From https://english.alarabiya.net/News/world/2024/05/13/ukrainians-russian-face-death-penalty-in-bali-over-suspected-drug-lab-

* This article was originally published here