Tourists ‘caught with gram of cocaine’ face 12 years in Bali prison

Your support helps us to tell the story

Support Now

Find out moreClose

As your White House correspondent, I ask the tough questions and seek the answers that matter.

Your support enables me to be in the room, pressing for transparency and accountability. Without your contributions, we wouldn't have the resources to challenge those in power.

Your donation makes it possible for us to keep doing this important work, keeping you informed every step of the way to the November election

Andrew Feinberg

White House Correspondent

A pair of tourists allegedly caught with a gram of cocaine in Bali could face more than a decade in prison, Indonesian police have said.

William Cabantog, 36, and David van Iersel, 38, were arrested at the Lost City Club in the island’s Canggu neighbourhood after they were allegedly found with 1.12 grams of cocaine, according to a police statement.

The Australians appeared in handcuffs and leg shackles at a police press conference on Tuesday.

They each face prison sentences ranging from four to 12 years if they are convicted, according to police.

Mr Cabantog was described as a hospitality consultant, and the Lost City Club was managed by Mr Van Iersel.

No details of court appearances or defence for the two men have yet been released.

Indonesia has strict drug laws and convicted smugglers are sometimes executed.

More than 150 people are currently on death row, mostly for drug crimes.

About a third of them are foreigners.

Relations between Indonesia and Australia were strained in 2015 when two Australians, Andrew Chan and Myuran Sukumaran, who were the ringleaders of a drug smuggling ring dubbed the Bali Nine by Australian media, were executed by firing squad.

A Frenchman was sentenced to death on Lombok, an island next to Bali, in May for smuggling 6.6lbs of ecstasy.

AP contributed to this report