British nationals face death penalty for smuggling cocaine into Indonesia
- Two British nationals were arrested after customs officers found drugs disguised as food in their luggage.
- They face serious charges, including the possibility of the death penalty under Indonesia's strict drug laws.
- Their trial is ongoing, with key witness testimonies expected to be heard in the coming days.
In Indonesia, three British nationals have been charged for attempting to smuggle cocaine onto the tourist island of Bali. Jonathan Christopher Collyer, 28, and Lisa Ellen Stocker, 29, were arrested on February 1, 2025, when customs officials discovered suspicious items in their luggage at an X-ray machine. A subsequent lab analysis confirmed that the ten sachets of Angel Delight dessert mix in Collyer’s luggage, combined with similar sachets in Stocker’s suitcase, contained nearly a kilogram (over two pounds) of cocaine worth approximately 6 billion rupiah ($368,000). Authorities arrested a third suspect, Phineas Ambrose Float, 31, on February 3, following a controlled delivery operation where Collyer and Stocker allegedly handed over the drugs to him in a hotel parking lot. The cocaine was reportedly transported from England with a layover at the Doha International Airport in Qatar. This arrest was part of a larger effort by the Indonesian authorities to crack down on drug smuggling, especially given the country's stringent drug laws. Indonesia is known for its strict punishments for drug offenses, with the death penalty being a possible sentence for drug trafficking. Currently, about 530 individuals are on death row in Indonesia, including 96 foreigners primarily dealing with drug-related crimes. Lindsay Sandiford, a British woman, has been on death row since 2012 for possessing large amounts of cocaine, highlighting the country's severe stance on drug offenses. The last executions in Indonesia occurred in July 2016. The trial for Collyer and Stocker is ongoing, with the court scheduled to reconvene on June 10, 2025, to hear witness testimony. Despite the serious charges, both defendants, along with their lawyers, have refrained from making any public comments throughout the trial. If convicted, they could each face the death penalty or a lengthy imprisonment of 15 to 20 years under Indonesian law. As of now, the situation continues to draw attention both locally and internationally, given the implications of their case and the broader issues of drug trafficking and enforcement in Indonesia.