UK man faces 11 years in Bali for smuggling 1.3 kg of cocaine

  Bali prosecutors on Thursday demanded 11 years in prison for British national Kial Garth Robinson for smuggling 1.3 kilograms of cocaine from Spain into Bali.

Prosecutor Dipa Umbara read the charges at Denpasar District Court, also requesting a 1 billion rupiah ($66,000) fine. If unpaid, Robinson’s assets could be seized and auctioned.

If the fines fall short, Robinson would serve an additional 190 days in prison as a substitute sentence

The prosecutor said the sentence request accounts for time Robinson has already spent in detention.

Robinson faces charges under Indonesia’s Narcotics Law, Articles 112(2) and 132(1), for possession and conspiracy to traffic narcotics.

Prosecutors noted his actions undermined government efforts to combat illegal drug distribution.

However, his cooperation during the trial and full confession were cited as mitigating factors.

Robinson’s legal team, led by Robert Kuana, said they will submit a written defense at the next hearing on Feb. 12.

The case began when Robinson arrived at Ngurah Rai International Airport on Sept. 3, 2025, around 8:30 p.m. local time.

Customs officers found cocaine hidden in a black Samsonite backpack Robinson brought from Barcelona, Spain.

Bali National Narcotics Agency weighed the evidence: two plastic packets of white powder totaling 1,343.67 grams gross, 1,321 grams net, concealed in the backpack’s rear compartment.

Robinson told authorities that he transported the drugs under instructions from a man named Santos.

He was asked to deliver the cocaine to someone with initials PEW in Bali and promised US$5,000, payable in cryptocurrency, after delivery.

Santos had also sent Robinson US$3,000 on Sept. 1 to cover flight, accommodation, and other expenses during his Indonesia trip.

Robinson admitted it was his first time smuggling narcotics into Indonesia.

Indonesia enforces some of the world's toughest drug laws, with major traffickers facing life imprisonment or the death penalty.

Despite these strict penalties, the country remains a lucrative market for drug syndicates, driven by its large population.

The nation's drug trade is valued at an estimated 66 trillion rupiah (US$4.3 billion), according to the National Narcotics Agency (BNN).

A BNN survey estimates that 3.4 million Indonesians use drugs—roughly 180 out of every 10,000 people aged 15 to 64.