A Brazilian tourist could face death by firing squad after cocaine was discovered in her suitcase, but she claims she was tricked by a gang.
Brazilian national Manuela Vitoria de Araujo Farias, 19, was discovered at Bali airport with three kilograms of cocaine allegedly stored in her luggage last month.
After being arrested on January 27, the 19-year-old claims that she was tricked by a gang to put the drugs in her bag as she seeks to avoid the death penalty, as reported by the Daily Mail.
Indonesia's strict anti-drug laws could see the Brazilian national be executed by firing squad if found guilty of drug-trafficking charges.
According to the Bali Times, Farias' lawyer Davi Lira da Silva claims that the teen was visiting Bali to visit a temple where they pray for the sick, as she seeks Buddhist prayers for a cure after her mother recently suffered a stroke.
The lawyer claims that a gang coerced Farias into packing the drugs, with Indonesian officials believing that the cocaine went unnoticed by Brazilian security and in Qatar where she made a connection.
Police in Santa Catarina in Brazil have allegedly refused to discuss an investigation into the criminal gangs that gave Farias the drugs.
This news comes just after Australian surfer Jeffrey Welton escaped the death penalty after heroin and methamphetamine were discovered in his luggage at the same airport in September last year.
As per the Daily Mail report, 52-year-old Welton was instead sentenced to eight months in a rehabilitation facility after a judge ruled that the surfer was a drug addict as opposed to a trafficker.
Australian website Smart Traveller lays out advice for those traveling to Indonesia, including listing the drug laws and punishments.
"Penalties for drug offenses are severe. They include the death penalty," the website states. "Police target illegal drug use and possession across Indonesia. Police often target popular places and venues in Bali and Jakarta."
The site explains that drugs that are legal in some places around the world, such as prescription drugs and cannabis, can result in a heavy fine, jail sentence, or even the death penalty if brought into Indonesia.
It stresses that having a prescription does not allow the user to carry the drugs into the country, and thorough research should be done into what is and isn't allowed before traveling.
Smoking is also banned in many public places in Bali, and being caught doing so could result in a hefty fine or time behind bars. Gambling is also illegal and can result in imprisonment.
It's better to play it safe than sorry, as even sleeping pills can result in severe punishments.
