Three British Nationals Face Death Penalty for Drug Smuggling in Bali
Bali, Indonesia – Three British citizens are now facing the death penalty in Indonesia for their alleged involvement in smuggling over two pounds of cocaine onto the tourist island of Bali. Charged in a Denpasar court on June 3, 2025, Jonathan Christopher Collyer, 28, Lisa Ellen Stocker, 29, and Phineas Ambrose Float, 31, are embroiled in a case that highlights the strict drug laws enforced in the Southeast Asian nation.
Arrest Details
Collyer and Stocker were apprehended on February 1 after customs officials detected suspicious items in their luggage through an X-ray machine at the airport. Prosecutor I Made Dipa Umbara revealed that the couple had concealed the narcotics in ten sachets of Angel Delight powdered dessert mix, which were confirmed to contain 2.19 pounds of cocaine valued at approximately $368,000. Following their arrests, authorities utilized a controlled delivery operation to capture Float, who was arrested two days later as he received the drugs from the couple in a hotel parking area.
The cocaine allegedly originated from England and was transported with a transit stop at Doha International Airport in Qatar. Reports from the Bali Police Narcotics Unit indicate that the trio had successfully smuggled drugs into Indonesia on two previous occasions before they were ultimately arrested on their third attempt.
Legal Proceedings and Potential Punishments
As their trial progresses, the panel of three judges has adjourned the proceedings until June 10, when witness testimonies will be heard. While representatives for the accused have refrained from commenting publicly after the arraignment, their lawyer, Sheiny Pangkahila, previously stated that a conviction could lead to sentences ranging from 15 to 20 years in an Indonesian prison or the potential for the death penalty.
The gravity of the situation is underscored by Indonesia’s strict approach toward drug-related offenses. Convicted drug smugglers can face execution by firing squad, especially within the context of a wider crackdown on narcotics that has resulted in a significant number of individuals, including foreigners, being sentenced to death.
Indonesia’s Drug Laws and Diplomatic Relations
The Ministry of Immigration and Corrections reported that approximately 530 individuals, including 96 foreigners, are currently on death row in Indonesia for drug-related offenses. The last executions in the country occurred in July 2016, marking a controversial aspect of Indonesia’s criminal justice system that has attracted international scrutiny.
Previously, reported cases of foreign nationals sentenced to death in Indonesia include that of Lindsay Sandiford, a British citizen currently on death row since 2012 for a substantial drug-related conviction. Recent developments have seen the country’s administration undertaking diplomatic efforts to repatriate inmates sentenced for drug crimes, including the transfer of individuals back to their home countries on humanitarian grounds.
In a separate yet relevant incident, a British former flight attendant was arrested in Sri Lanka on serious drug charges involving over 100 pounds of synthetic cannabis, facing a potential life sentence if convicted.
As this case unfolds, the three British nationals remain caught in a complex legal environment, representing a stark reminder of the dire consequences associated with drug trafficking in Indonesia. The global attention on their trial emphasizes ongoing concerns regarding international drug smuggling and the ramifications under Indonesia’s stringent laws.
This developing story will continue to be monitored as further information becomes available.
Add a comment