A British man and an Argentine woman are on trial in Indonesia, facing charges of smuggling cocaine onto the tourist island of Bali.
Eleonora Gracia, 46, was arrested at Bali’s airport in March. Prosecutors allege she had 244 grams (approximately half a pound) of cocaine concealed inside a condom in her vagina.
Authorities claim she then passed the cocaine to Elliot James Shaw, 50, at a hotel near a Bali beach.
July 3
The date the trial was adjourned until
Prosecutors at the District Court in Denpasar, Bali, the provincial capital, stated that the pair violated anti-narcotics laws, which carry a maximum sentence of 12 years in prison.
After the charges were read against Gracia and Shaw, a panel of three judges postponed the trial until July 3.
A verdict is expected to be delivered next month.
Gracia and Shaw, both wearing face masks, sat together during the court proceedings.
Neither defendant nor their legal representatives made any statements in court or to reporters.
The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime identifies Indonesia as a significant drug-smuggling hub, despite the country’s strict drug laws. This is attributed in part to international drug syndicates targeting Indonesia’s large young population.
Recently, Indonesian authorities arrested 285 individuals suspected of drug trafficking, including 29 women and seven foreign nationals, and seized over half a ton of narcotics during a two-month operation.
As of last month, approximately 530 individuals are on death row in Indonesia, primarily for drug-related offenses. This includes 96 foreigners, according to data from the Ministry of Immigration and Corrections.
Indonesia’s last executions occurred in July 2016, involving one Indonesian citizen and three foreign nationals.
