Two Kazakh nationals, GT (28) and IM (35), were arrested by Bali’s National Narcotics Agency (BNNP Bali) in the early hours of Monday, May 12, in Batuan Village, Gianyar. Officers on patrol grew suspicious when they noticed one of the men searching through roadside bushes while the other waited nearby on a running motorcycle. Upon approach, officers uncovered 30 tightly wrapped packages of methamphetamine weighing 49.18 grams, hidden beneath the foliage and sealed with black duct tape.
The suspects were taken to BNNP Bali headquarters for further questioning. Both admitted to receiving orders from a figure known only as “EVIL,” believed to be part of a larger Russian drug syndicate. According to Brigadier General Rudy Ahmad Sudrajat, head of BNNP Bali, the suspects were acting as couriers, distributing meth to foreign tourists in Bali under direct instructions from EVIL. The network operated with international coordination, including the use of cryptocurrency and encrypted communication in Russian.
This case is part of a growing concern that Bali is being used as a hotspot for narcotics circulation targeting tourists. Investigators are now cooperating with Russian authorities in Indonesia to track down the syndicate’s leadership and dismantle the wider network.
GT and IM are facing charges under Indonesia’s Narcotics Law No. 35 of 2009, Article 112(2), which carries a prison sentence ranging from 5 to 20 years and fines of up to IDR 8 billion. Authorities urge the public to remain vigilant, as international drug rings continue to exploit Bali’s tourism boom to mask their operations.