A Denpasar court hears details of a failed international drug run, highlighting the severe and unwavering legal consequences for narcotics trafficking in Indonesia.
DENPASAR, Bali — In a stark reminder of Indonesia’s uncompromising stance on narcotics, a British national was formally prosecuted on Thursday for attempting to smuggle over 1.3 kilograms of cocaine into Bali. Prosecutors at the Denpasar District Court requested an 11-year prison sentence for Kial Garth Robinson, detailing a transnational operation that began in Barcelona and was intercepted at the island’s main airport last September.
According to the prosecution, Robinson arrived at I Gusti Ngurah Rai International Airport on September 3, 2025. Customs officers, acting on suspicion, conducted a detailed search of his backpack, where they discovered the illicit substance. The cocaine, reportedly packaged in clear plastic, was allegedly transported from Spain with the intent of delivery to an individual in Bali identified only by the initials PEW.
The Failed Transaction: A Digital Currency Deal
The court heard that Robinson’s involvement was financially motivated. He claimed to have been acting on the instructions of a man named Santos, who promised a payment of 5,000 USDC (a cryptocurrency stablecoin pegged to the US dollar, equivalent to approximately $5,000 USD) upon successful delivery. An advance of 3,000 USDC was allegedly provided to cover Robinson’s flight from Barcelona to Bali and initial accommodation expenses.
Following the planned handover in Bali, Robinson intended to travel to Thailand on September 8, where he had already booked a villa. All the advance funds, however, were reportedly exhausted on his airfare and lodging, leaving the promised reward unclaimed after his arrest at the arrival gate.
Severe Penalties Under Indonesian Law
The prosecution’s demand for an 11-year term, coupled with a fine of Rp 1 billion (with a substitute sentence of 190 days imprisonment if unpaid), underscores the gravity with which Indonesian law treats drug importation. The charges fall under the country’s strict 2009 Narcotics Law. Robinson’s defense team, led by lawyer Robet Kuana, indicated they found the sentence request excessive and will submit a formal written defense, or pledoi, next week.
For Bali’s vast international community—composed of tourists, expatriates, and digital nomads—the case serves as a critical, sobering bulletin. It reinforces a non-negotiable reality often obscured by the island’s reputation for leisure and spiritual retreat: Indonesia’s legal system imposes draconian penalties for drug offenses, with no distinction made for foreign nationals.
The incident also highlights the increasingly sophisticated methods employed by international drug syndicates, leveraging digital currencies and global transit routes. However, it simultaneously demonstrates the vigilance of Indonesian border authorities at key entry points like Bali’s airport, a primary gateway for millions of visitors annually.
As the trial proceeds to the defense’s plea, the proceedings stand as a powerful, cautionary narrative. They affirm that Bali’s paradise is vigilantly guarded, and that the pursuit of illicit gain on its shores carries a price measured not in fleeting cryptocurrency, but in years of freedom.
