News | International
19 Dec 2025 12:44
NZCity News
NZCity CalculatorReturn to NZCity

  • Start Page
  • Personalise
  • Sport
  • Weather
  • Finance
  • Shopping
  • Jobs
  • Horoscopes
  • Lotto Results
  • Photo Gallery
  • Site Gallery
  • TVNow
  • Dating
  • SearchNZ
  • NZSearch
  • Crime.co.nz
  • RugbyLeague
  • Make Home
  • About NZCity
  • Contact NZCity
  • Your Privacy
  • Advertising
  • Login
  • Join for Free

  •   Home > News > International

    Australian man Lamar Ahchee sentenced to 12 years in prison for role in Bali cocaine-smuggling plot

    An Australian man is sentenced to 12 years in a Bali prison for his role in trafficking cocaine into the country in Lindt chocolate wrappers.


    An Australian man has been sentenced to 12 years in a Bali prison for his role in trafficking cocaine into Indonesia.

    Lamar Ahchee was arrested earlier this year after police tracked the delivery of two packages to his apartment in the Bali district of North Kuta.

    Inside was 1.7 kilograms of cocaine, concealed across more than 200 Lindt chocolate wrappers.

    A Bali court on Thursday found the 42-year-old guilty of distributing an illicit substance, an offence that can carry the death penalty as a maximum sentence.

    He has also been fined $180,000.

    Chief Judge Tjokorda Putra Budi Pastima said the court considered both aggravating and mitigating factors in the sentencing.

    "The defendant was evasive and attempted to obscure the facts and his role, portraying himself as if he had no knowledge that the package he received contained narcotics," he said.

    Ahchee's remorse and lack of previous convictions were part of the mitigating factors.

    "The defendant has never previously been convicted," the chief judge said.

    "He expressed remorse and promised not to repeat his actions. The defendant also behaved politely during the trial proceedings."

    Throughout the trial Ahchee denied knowing the packages contained drugs.

    In the final weeks of the trial, he claimed he was told the packages contained toys, and he was fearful of the person who asked they be delivered to his house.

    'Sincere remorse'

    At court last week, Ahchee submitted a letter expressing his "sincere remorse".

    "I stand before you today in a position I never imagined, one born of personal weakness, fear, and calculated deception," he said in the letter.

    "I take full responsibility for my actions and offer no excuse, only the truth."

    In the letter, Ahchee describes battling an addiction to cocaine while living and working in Sydney, a "struggle" that "followed [him] to Bali".

    He then alleges that he was "deceived, coerced and manipulated" by another man while he was in Bali.

    In the letter, Ahchee said that the man told him to collect a package that contained "children's toys".

    Ahchee will be sent to Bali's Kerobokan prison, where has spent the past few months.

    Drugs monitored by police before arrest

    Officers in Bali said that they received a tip-off that there would be two packages containing drugs arriving from overseas, one addressed to an apartment in North Kuta, and the other destined for an address in Mengwi.

    Customs officers detected the cocaine inside the packages via X-ray and contacted police.

    Authorities then monitored the delivery of the packages.

    The following day, investigators said Ahchee contacted a motorbike delivery rider through a mobile app and asked him to collect one of the packages from a post office.

    Police said the package was collected and passed on to another delivery driver before being driven to the apartment in North Kuta, before the original driver picked up the second package from a different post office and drove it directly to the same address.

    Ahchee was arrested that same day after receiving the packages.

    © 2025 ABC Australian Broadcasting Corporation. All rights reserved

     Other International News
     19 Dec: More photos released on eve of Jeffrey Epstein files deadline
     19 Dec: The University of Philippines' dragon boat athletes are unpaid, but driven by community pride
     19 Dec: How to watch Jake Paul vs Anthony Joshua on Netflix, when and what time is the fight?
     19 Dec: Victoria Police reviewing evidence collected under secret prison bugging program
     18 Dec: Former senior police officers detail why Bondi Beach terror incident was so difficult to defend
     18 Dec: How to handle awkward comments and conversations this Christmas
     18 Dec: FBI deputy to step down from role less than 12 months after appointment
     Top Stories

    RUGBY RUGBY
    The Black Ferns will have a female coach for the first time in the professional era More...


    BUSINESS BUSINESS
    Concern slow growth could be on the horizon for global trade More...



     Today's News

    Environment:
    Further restrictions on the harvesting of spiny rock lobster in the upper North Island 12:27

    Entertainment:
    John Cena can "operate" without sleep for 40 hours straight 12:20

    Dunedin:
    Dunedin’s inner-city greening project shows even small spaces can be wildlife havens 12:17

    National:
    Olivia Nuzzi didn’t report what she knew about RFK Jr – could she have stopped his rise? 12:07

    Politics:
    The Northland Regional Council is working towards a zero percent increase in rates next year 11:57

    Entertainment:
    Howard Stern has hit back at Kim Kardashian after she claimed he accused her of faking her 2016 Paris robbery 11:50

    International:
    More photos released on eve of Jeffrey Epstein files deadline 11:47

    Entertainment:
    Daniel Craig is "enjoying" acting "more than ever" since quitting as James Bond 11:20

    Education:
    The University of Philippines' dragon boat athletes are unpaid, but driven by community pride 11:17

    Business:
    Concern slow growth could be on the horizon for global trade 11:07


     News Search






    Power Search


    © 2025 New Zealand City Ltd