A 36-year-old Brazilian woman was arrested on the island of Bali, Indonesia, after authorities found about four kilograms of liquid cocaine hidden in bottles of shampoo and other personal care products carried in her luggage.
The woman had disembarked from a flight from Brazil when she was subjected to a customs inspection. According to local police, the seizure ranks among the largest on record in Bali involving liquid cocaine.
This form of the drug is widely used for trafficking and smuggling, or in the past could refer to an injectable solution of cocaine hydrochloride for medical purposes. However, more often it is cocaine dissolved in chemical solvents to pass through inspections.
During questioning, the suspect said she had been recruited by another Brazilian to deliver the cargo to a recipient on the island. In exchange for transporting the drug, she reportedly was promised a payment of US$50,000, equivalent to about R$249,000.
If convicted, the Brazilian could face one of the severest penalties provided by Indonesia’s anti-drug laws, including the possibility of life imprisonment. The country is known for its strict drug-trafficking rules and maintains dozens of death-row inmates, although it has not carried out executions since 2016.
Bali authorities said they planned to intensify the fight against international drug trafficking, especially in a region that receives a large influx of foreign tourists.
