Latest news with #BNN
ABC News
05-06-2025
- Health
- ABC News
Australian man arrested for drug possession in Bali
An Australian man has been arrested in Bali on suspicion of drug possession, Indonesian authorities have said. The Bali Narcotics Board detailed the arrest of 40-year-old Puridas Robinson in connection with drug possession. Officials said the arrest was linked to an earlier case involving an Indian national, who told police that Mr Robinson had allegedly ordered hashish and marijuana from him. Authorities then brought the Indian man along to assist in identifying Mr Robinson. Mr Robinson, however, denied placing any order. Police raided his residence, where they say they found 20 grams of hashish stored in the fridge and a digital scale. They said Mr Robinson told investigators he was a user, not a dealer, and said he had allegedly purchased 120 grams of hashish from a seller on Instagram for $300. They said he claimed only 20 grams remained at the time of the raid. At the start of the press conference, BNN officials said they were considering applying narcotics laws that carry the death penalty for drug trafficking. However, by the end of the briefing, they clarified that Mr Robinson was currently only being investigated for possession, pending further evidence. "We express our deepest appreciation and gratitude to all elements of society, media, traditional leaders, religious leaders and the younger generation to continue to play an active role in maintaining Bali as a safe, healthy and productive area so that it is free from the threat of drugs," said the National Narcotics Board during a press conference. Police in the Indonesian province said Mr Robinson was known to have been in and out of Bali since 1988, police told the media.
Daily Mail
05-06-2025
- General
- Daily Mail
EXCLUSIVE Bombshell update after Australian was arrested in Bali on drug trafficking charges as cops put him on parade in orange prison clothes
A second Australian arrested in Bali over alleged drug offences in as many weeks will avoid trafficking charges that could have seen him sentenced to death. Puridas Robinson, 40, from Queensland, was paraded in front of local media by the Bali Branch National Narcotic Agency (BNN) on Thursday following police allegedly finding a stash of marijuana at his West Denpasar villa. He was among 21 people arrested by the agency during April and May in a crackdown on illicit drugs on the popular holiday island. Aside from Robinson, there were four other foreigners in the group including two from Kazakhstan, one from the US and an Indian man, Harsh Vardhan Nowlakha, 31, who allegedly tipped detectives off about Robinson. The head of the drugs eradication unit at BNN, Senior Commander Made Sinar Subawa, told Daily Mail Australia Robinson will only be charged with drug possession, which carries a maximum 12 years prison term if he is found guilty, and that trafficking charges would be dropped. Robinson was arrested following the arrest of Nowlakha at Bali Airport last Thursday when he arrived from Los Angeles allegedly carrying 600g of marijuana. Nowlakha allegedly told investigators that he brought the drugs for Robinson and police followed him to Robinson's address where they swooped and searched the property. Robinson denied that he ordered the drugs. 'We could not find enough evidence to prove that the drugs seized from Nowlakha was ordered by Robinson. So we will only charged him with article 111 that carries a maximum 12 years prison term,' Made Sinar said. 'Therefore, the investigator decided to drop article 114 that was planned to be used.' But he confirmed Nowlakha was was still likely to be charged with the more serious article 113 and 114 of the drug law regarding importing narcotics. In Indonesia, marijuana is a Class 1 narcotic along with heroin, cocaine, methamphetamine, LSD, and MDMA. While investigators could not prove Robinson ordered the drugs that Nowlakha allegedly brought into the country, they did allegedly find 20 grams of marijuana in Robinson's house. Robinson's arrest is just days after a fellow Queenslander was arrested for alleged cocaine trafficking in a separate drug bust. Lamar Ahchee, 43, was arrested in Canggu, a coastal village on the south-west coast of Bali, on May 22 accused of trafficking 1.8kg of cocaine worth $1.1m onto the tourist island. Police allege the Cairns man, who is the son of former Queensland senior constable Les Ahchee, collected two parcels of cocaine concealed in chocolate boxes , each containing 54 individual packets of the drug. Ahchee has denied being a drug dealer and claimed that he was 'framed'. Ahchee, a confessed drug addict, allegedly tested positive for drugs while in custody. His lawyer Edward Pangkahila said Ahchee denied any involvement in drug trafficking. 'He's telling me that honestly, he doesn't know what was inside,'Mr Pangkahila said.
Bloomberg
04-06-2025
- Business
- Bloomberg
Bay Street Sees Future Cuts After Bank of Canada Holds Steady
The Bank of Canada 's decision to hold its policy interest rate at 2.75% shows that it's more focused on core inflation than weak economic growth as it waits to get more data, according to analysts. Stronger than expected price growth has 'changed their calculation,' Charles St-Arnaud, chief economist with Alberta Central, said on BNN Bloomberg Television. The bank is now faced with the dilemma of balancing concerns about the health of the economy with inflation risks, he said.
Daily Mail
04-06-2025
- General
- Daily Mail
Second Aussie man accused of smuggling drugs into Bali is identified - as new details emerge
An Australian man accused of smuggling drugs into Bali and potentially faces life behind bars has been identified. Queensland man Puridas Robinson, 40, was arrested at a villa in West Denpasar last Thursday following an alleged tip-off from a co-accused accomplice. Authorities arrested Indian national Harsh Nowlahka, 31, earlier in the day after he was allegedly found in possession of 600g of marijuana at Denpasar International Airport. Bali National Narcotic Agency conducted further inquiries and has alleged that it was Robinson who ordered the narcotics. Nowlahka allegedly told authorities he was supposed to deliver the drugs to Robinson's home, sources told Daily Telegraph. Authorities followed Nowlahka to Robinson's villa, where officers allegedly uncovered a 104g stash of marijuana during a search of the property. Robinson hasn't yet formally charged and has denied the allegations against him. He remains in custody. He and Nowlakha were among five foreigners arrested as part of last week's investigation. BNN spokesperson Made Dwi Saputra was tight-tipped regarding the allegations against Robinson, who is accused of drug trafficking and drug possession. Mr Saputra told Daily Mail Australia on Wednesday night that more details would be revealed on Thursday. 'We will hold (a) press conference of some cases, including the Australian, tomorrow morning at 10am,' he said. Robinson faces a maximum sentence of life in prison if he is found guilty of drug trafficking. A drug possession conviction attracts a jail term of up to 12 years. In Indonesia, marijuana is a Class 1 narcotic along with heroin, cocaine, methamphetamine, LSD, and MDMA. Robinson's arrest came days after a fellow Queenslander was arrested for alleged cocaine trafficking. Lamar Ahchee, 43, was arrested in Canggu, a coastal village on the south-west coast of Bali, on May 22 accused of trafficking 1.8kg of cocaine worth $1.1m onto the tourist sland. Police allege the Cairns man, who is the son of former Queensland senior constable Les Ahchee, collected two parcels of cocaine concealed in chocolate boxes, each containing 54 individual packets of the drug. Ahchee has denied being a drug dealer and claimed that he was 'framed'. Ahchee, a confessed drug addict, allegedly tested positive for drugs while in custody. His lawyer Edward Pangkahila said Ahchee denied any involvement in drug trafficking. 'He's telling me that honestly, he doesn't know what was inside,'Mr Pangkahila said. 'We're still looking for that somebody who tell him to take this package. 'The police have to find this guy.' Ahchee (pictured on Monday) is accused of trying to smuggle cocaine onto the island Ahchee has not been charged but remained in custody since his arrest. He faces the death penalty if convicted.
The Star
28-05-2025
- The Star
Narcotics agency, police foil largest drug smuggling attempt in Indonesian history
Indonesian Navy personnel inspecting packages of methamphetamine at Batam Customs Port, Riau Islands, on May 26. - Antara JAKARTA: Authorities recently foiled an attempt to smuggle two tonnes of methamphetamine into the country, marking the largest drug seizure in the nation's history. A joint task force from the National Narcotics Agency (BNN), the National Police and the Indonesian Military seized the illicit drugs aboard a ship named Sea Dragon Tarawa in the waters off the Riau Islands last week. The vessel was intercepted as it sailed from the Andaman Sea toward Indonesian waters in Riau Islands Province. During the raid, authorities uncovered 67 boxes containing 2,000 packages of methamphetamine disguised as tea. The drugs were hidden in secret compartments throughout the vessel, including within its fuel tank. The Riau Islands Police arrested all six crew members on board, comprising four Indonesian nationals and two Thai citizens. They have been charged under Articles 112 and 114 of the 2009 Narcotics Law, which carries a maximum penalty of life imprisonment or the death sentence if convicted. The National Narcotics Agency (BNN) chief Comr Gen. Marthinus Hukom, said the raid was conducted after a five-month investigation and surveillance effort, which was launched after authorities received intelligence from international partners. 'This is the largest drug seizure in the history of narcotics enforcement in Indonesia,' Marthinus said at a press conference on Monday (May 26), as quoted by Kompas. The BNN has linked the methamphetamine shipment to a transnational drug syndicate operating out of the Golden Triangle, the notorious region where northeastern Myanmar borders parts of Thailand and Laos. The area has a long history of producing drugs, with trafficking networks extending as far as Japan and New Zealand. Marthinus said the drugs were destined for Indonesia as well as other South-East Asian countries such as Malaysia and the Philippines. The latest seizure comes after Indonesia's navy seized a ship carrying nearly two tonnes of methamphetamine and cocaine worth Rp 7 trillion (US$425 million) around the same area in the west of the archipelago earlier this month. One Thai national and four Myanmar nationals were also detained. The eleven suspects arrested in connection with both cases were all fishermen who were allegedly recruited by drug traffickers to smuggle narcotics to various countries. They were reportedly paid Rp 25 million per trip, with bonuses of up to Rp 50 million. Last week, authorities also foiled an attempt to smuggle 1.8 kilograms of cocaine, valued at Rp 12 billion, from the United Kingdom to Bali. The drugs were concealed in two separate packages, hidden inside dolls and stationery items, and sent via mail. Customs officers detected the narcotics during an X-ray scan and immediately alerted the Bali Police. Bali Police Chief Insp. Ge. Daniel Adityajaya said that a 43-year-old Australian man, identified only by his initials LAA, was arrested in connection with the case. 'He was apprehended at an apartment in North Kuta, Badung Regency, shortly after receiving the narcotics packages,' Daniel said on Monday. LAA is believed to be part of an international drug trafficking syndicate, and police allege that he received Rp 50 million from another trafficker to sell the cocaine to foreign tourists visiting the popular holiday island. LAA has been charged under the 2009 Narcotics Law and faces the possibility of the death penalty if found guilty. - The Jakarta Post/ANN
