BALINEWSID.COM, BADUNG – Two Indian nationals have been arrested after customs officers and police allegedly found more than 10 kilograms of cannabis hidden in their suitcases at I Gusti Ngurah Rai International Airport in Bali.

The suspects, identified by their initials AR, 28, and PC, 31, were arrested on Monday, August 3, 2026, at the Customs Area of the International Arrivals Terminal at Ngurah Rai Airport, Tuban, Kuta, Badung.

Authorities seized a total of 10,310 grams gross, or 10,110 grams net, of cannabis packed in 100 separate packages.

The operation was carried out jointly by the Ngurah Rai Customs Office and the Narcotics Investigation Unit of the I Gusti Ngurah Rai Airport Police.

The case began after Scoot Airlines flight TR280, operating on the Koh Samui–Singapore–Denpasar route, landed at Ngurah Rai Airport at around 10:30 a.m. local time.

At approximately 11:25 a.m., customs officers conducted X-ray screening of passengers’ baggage. The screening allegedly raised suspicions about two Indian passengers, AR and PC, prompting officers to carry out a more thorough inspection.

A search of AR’s brown suitcase uncovered eight boxes containing 62 packages of dried greenish-brown plant material. The material weighed 6,399 grams gross, or 6,275 grams net.

A separate search of PC’s brown suitcase, which had an LV-style pattern, uncovered six boxes containing 38 packages of similar material. The second batch weighed 3,911 grams gross, or 3,835 grams net.

Laboratory testing conducted by the Ngurah Rai Customs Laboratory confirmed that the material tested positive for Delta-9 Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), a Group I narcotic classified as cannabis under Indonesian law.

Investigators said the suspects allegedly attempted to disguise the cannabis as food souvenirs. The packages were placed inside several cardboard boxes and mixed with other belongings in their suitcases in an apparent attempt to evade inspection.

During preliminary questioning, the two suspects reportedly told investigators that they had come to Bali together as a family for a three-day holiday.

They also allegedly admitted that the cannabis had been obtained from an individual while they were in Thailand.

Authorities are now investigating the source of the drugs and whether the two suspects were connected to a wider international trafficking network.

Following the discovery, Ngurah Rai Customs immediately coordinated with the Airport Police Narcotics Investigation Unit. The suspects, evidence and case were subsequently handed over to the police for further investigation.

A joint team was also formed to conduct a controlled delivery operation while investigators pursued further information concerning the suspected drug network.

Authorities estimate that the seizure prevented narcotics from reaching the illegal market and potentially protected more than 2,076 people from the harmful effects of drug abuse. The potential financial loss to the state was estimated at approximately Rp.3.3 billion.

The suspects are being investigated under Article 111 paragraph (2) of Indonesia’s Law No. 35 of 2009 on Narcotics, in conjunction with relevant provisions of Law No. 1 of 2026 concerning criminal penalty adjustments, and/or Article 610 paragraph (2)(a) of Law No. 1 of 2023 on the Criminal Code, also in conjunction with Law No. 1 of 2026. Police allege that both suspects acted as couriers in transporting the cannabis into Indonesia.

The case highlights the continued efforts of Indonesian authorities to prevent international drug trafficking through Bali’s main aviation gateway and underscores the importance of cooperation between customs officials and law enforcement agencies in intercepting narcotics before they enter the country.