Anti-Narcotics Agency Issues Warning: Tourists Bringing Marijuana to Bali Could Face Life in Prison

Bali Update Editorial Team

2 hours ago

BALINEWS reports that the Denpasar Branch of the National Narcotics Agency (BNN) is warning foreign tourists not to bring marijuana or any other narcotic to Bali. Differences in home-country drug laws do not form a valid legal defense for those trying to ignore Indonesia’s tough anti-narcotics laws.

The Head of BNN Denpasar, Senior Police Commissioner Dr. Leo Dedy Defretes, underlined that Indonesia maintains strict legal provisions regarding the abuse and illicit trafficking of narcotics, as stipulated under the Anti-Narcotics Law Number 35 of 2009.

Leo made the statements during a recent operation to uncover an alleged illicit narcotics distribution network in the South Denpasar area, which took place from Tuesday night, 20 October 2026 until the early hours of Wednesday, 21 October 2026.

Officer Leo said that it is crucial to warn foreign tourists—particularly those arriving from countries with drug policies that differ from Indonesia’s- of the possible threat of life in prison in Indonesia if they choose to smuggle narcotics to Bali. Tourists are urged to familiarize themselves with local laws before entering Indonesia, including Bali, which is Indonesia’s leading international tourist destination.

”Bali is part of Indonesia, where the law strictly prohibits the use and illicit trafficking of narcotics,” Leo warned.

The leading anti-narcotics policeman explained that prohibitions regarding narcotics extend beyond illegal consumption to encompass various forms of illicit trafficking, such as selling, acting as an intermediary in transactions, producing, importing, or exporting narcotics illegally.

*Head of BNN Denpasar,* Senior Police Commissioner
**Dr. Leo Dedy Defretes**

Leo took pains to specifically highlight marijuana use, which, under Indonesian law, is classified as a Category I plant-based narcotic. He cautioned tourists against assuming that substances permitted or regulated differently in other countries are automatically legal in Indonesia. “Take the time to learn and understand the regulations regarding the different classifications of narcotics. While some countries may permit their use, in Indonesia, both the distribution and consumption of such substances are strictly prohibited by law,” he said.

Leo also cautioned that narcotics-related offenses can lead to severe criminal penalties. He noted that sentences can range from 20 years in prison to life imprisonment, depending on the nature of the offense and the applicable legal provisions.

Consequently, tourists are urged to ensure that their belongings do not contain any prohibited narcotics and to refrain from any involvement in the misuse or illicit trafficking of drugs while in Bali.

The Denpasar City National Narcotics Agency (BNN) emphasizes that preventing drug abuse is a collective responsibility shared by Indonesian law enforcement, including ensuring international tourists are well informed about the law. This education is intended to help prevent legal violations while also safeguarding the security and comfort of Bali’s tourism sector.

Leo calls on all tourists to respect the regulations in force in Indonesia and to avoid applying legal norms or customs from their home countries to justify actions prohibited in Indonesia.

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