Repeat after us: Indonesia. Is. Not. Thailand. Weed. Is. Still. Illegal. In. Indonesia.
Remember when we published a piece about a Brazilian student who was arrested at the airport in Bali for carrying weed that he said he bought in Thailand (where it is already legal)?
More recently, a 37-year-old American man was arrested at the Ngurah Rai International Airport after he was caught with liquified cannabis vape cartridges in his possession. The man’s initials were disclosed as JJB.
Ngurah Rai Airport Police Chief Ida Ayu Wikartini said at a press conference today that JJB, who reportedly works as a teacher in the US, arrived on July 19 at around 9pm from Kuala Lumpur.
Ida did not go further into his recent travel history, nor where he obtained the illegal goods. It’s worth noting that marijuana is also illegal in Malaysia, and the nearest country to Indonesia to have decriminalized the plant is Thailand.
While he was passing the baggage checkpoint, customs officers found six vape cartridges containing yellow liquid in his camera bag. The officers later reported to the police and they later confirmed the contents of the cartridges were, in fact, liquid cannabis.
In total, JBB possessed 3.18 grams of liquid weed.
“Based on the suspect’s statement, the narcotics evidence is his and he planned to use it during his stay or holiday in Bali,” Ayu Wikartini added.
Under Indonesian law, JJB may face up to 15 years’ imprisonment for illegal narcotics possession.
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