T

he Indonesian anti-drug agency has revealed that hashish could possibly become the new drug of choice, overtaking crystal methamphetamine in terms of popularity

“Recent cases of smuggling show that there is a gradual shift in the drugs that international syndicates try to traffic into this island,” the National Narcotic Agency’s (BNN) Bali office chief Sr. Comr. I Ketut Budiarta said.

“Previously, most of the smuggling cases involved crystal methamphetamine. Recently, the number of smuggling attempts involving hashish has increased,” he said.

On March 29, customs officials at Ngurah Rai International Airport foiled an alleged attempt to smuggle a large quantity of hashish into the resort island.

The suspect has been identified as Italian national Daniele Pieretto, 32.

He had allegedly been carrying 1.4 kilograms of hashish inside of his briefcase.

“This is the third recent attempt to smuggle hashish into Bali. Previously, an Australian national and a Malaysian national were arrested over similar attempts,” Budiarta said.

The Australian he referred to was Edward Norman Myatt, who is accused of swallowing a total of 72 capsules containing hashish and crystal meth (known locally as shabu-shabu) weighing a total 1.11 kilograms.

Myatt was arrested in February.

The gradual shift from crystal meth to hashish now leaves the anti-drug agency facing a big question about the true destination of illegal drugs.

“The shift could mark the syndicates’ efforts to adapt to the local market’s dynamics, meaning that the increasing supply of hashish is driven by the increasing demand in Bali’s market,” Budiarta said.

“Or, and this is a big possibility, the syndicates view Bali as an ideal transit place before moving the drugs to their final destinations, either inside Indonesia or abroad.

“The syndicates could use Bali as a primary transit point to transport the hashish from producing countries in Asia to a major market in Australia.”

Pieretto was arrested after he disembarked from the Malaysia Airline MH 715 flight from New Delhi via Kuala Lumpur.

“Our X-ray scanner showed that there was a suspicious object inside his briefcase. We inspected the briefcase and found the illegal contraband,” Ngurah Rai customs office chief I Made Wijaya alleged.

Wijaya praised his men’s vigilance and skill in detecting the alleged smuggling attempt.

He said that the airport’s international arrivals hall had been filled with passengers from five different flights at the time.

Amid the commotion, the officials could still single out Pieretto.

Bali’s Ngurah Rai International Airport serves direct and connecting flights to every continent in the world, a fact that would not escape the international drug syndicates’
attention.

A sizable expatriate population and a growing nightclub and rave-party scene have also encouraged criminal organizations wishing to traffic party drugs, using foreigners as couriers.

Wijaya said that the current street price for hashish was Rp 600,000 per gram, making the alleged load carried by Pieretto worth Rp 858 million.

“In India, the hashish price is far cheaper,” Wijaya said, hinting that the syndicates might try to gain better profit by selling the hashish in Bali.

Pieretto will be charged with articles from the Narcotics Law that carry a maximum sentence of 20 years’ imprisonment and fines of up to Rp 10 billion.