Kateryna Vakarova, 21, is accused of bringing drugs into Bali after she displayed ‘suspicious behaviour’ at the airport with testing later revealing presence of crystalline substances
A woman is potentially facing a death sentence by firing squad after she was “caught” bringing a “designer drug” into Bali.
The 21-year-old Ukrainian, Kateryna Vakarova was detained for allegedly “bringing” just a little over 4lb of a “designer drug.” She was arrested after arriving by plane to the Indonesian holiday island.
She was shown looking distraught after her arrest. Indonesia has some of the world’s toughest drugs laws, which can include execution by firing squad.
She is accused of trafficking large amounts of narcotics which is punishable by death or life imprisonment, and was stopped earlier this month by Bali Customs and Indonesia’s National Narcotics Agency – but her case wasn’t immediately made public.
The authorities said officers became suspicious of her “behaviour” at the international arrivals terminal of I Gusti Ngurah Rai International Airport.
A scan of her luggage showed packages hidden among her personal belongings, said reports. Meanwhile, a physical search confirmed the presence of crystalline substances later identified through laboratory testing as 4-CMC – or 4-Chloromethcathinone.
“This type of narcotic is relatively new in Indonesia, and its circulation is dangerous because it is designed to evade existing drug laws,” said BNN Chief Brig. Gen. Gde Sugianyar Dwi Putra.
Vakarova “admitted she was transporting the drugs for distribution in Bali, primarily targeting foreign tourists at entertainment venues,” reported the Bali Times citing law enforcement.
It added: “She allegedly acted under instructions from contacts overseas, pointing to the involvement of a transnational drug syndicate.”
The Indonesian authorities are “coordinating with Interpol and foreign law enforcement to track the network’s operations.”
It comes as teenage “drug mule” Brit Bella Culley has urged authorities to consider her side of the story – as it’s revealed she’s expecting a baby boy.
The 19-year-old faces a life sentence in a Georgian prison for allegedly smuggling cannabis into the country. During a recent hearing in Tbilisi, Bella, who has previously claimed to have been forced by torture, addressed the judge: “I hope you understand my story through my eyes. I never thought something like this would happen to me.”
Bella’s mum, Lyanne, was also present in the courtroom and appeared visibly emotional after hearing the news that her daughter is expecting a boy, following recent medical tests. Asked about Bella’s condition outside the courtroom, Lyanne stated: “She’s feeling pregnant.”
As she left the courtroom, Lyanne reportedly offered her daughter reassurance, saying: “I’ll come and see you tomorrow, I love you.”
Prosecution lawyer Vakhtang Tsalughelashvili labelled Bella’s alleged offence “heavy”, whereas her lawyer, Malkhaz Salakia, maintained there was no concrete evidence the crime was committed deliberately.
#Ukrainian #woman #facing #death #firing #squad #caught #designer #drug
