Two British men jailed for smuggling 1.3kg-worth of cocaine into Bali
BBC World
February 26, 2026
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Two British nationals, Kial Garth Robinson and Piran Ezra Wilkinson, have been sentenced to lengthy prison terms in Indonesia for their roles in a cocaine-smuggling operation targeting Bali. Robinson, 29, received an 11-year sentence, while Wilkinson, 48, was jailed for nine years. Both were also ordered to pay substantial fines of around £45,000 each or face additional time behind bars. The pair was apprehended last September after customs officials at Ngurah Rai International Airport discovered two packages containing 1.3kg of cocaine in Robinson's backpack. Wilkinson was arrested the following day in Canggu, Bali.
Robinson and Wilkinson, who reportedly met in Barcelona before their arrest, were part of a drug-smuggling syndicate. According to court testimony, Robinson acted as a courier, lured by offers of $5,000 for transporting the drugs and another $5,000 towards debt repayment. He claimed he was unaware of the package's contents but admitted to knowing they were dangerous. Indonesia enforces some of the world’s strictest anti-narcotics laws, with drug trafficking carrying potential death sentences, though executions have been halted since 2017.
Wilkinson had recently arrived in Bali when he was arrested, and authorities linked him to the operation through his connection with Robinson. The case highlights the severe consequences faced by individuals involved in drug smuggling, even those who claim limited involvement or unawareness of the drugs' nature. This verdict underscores Indonesia’s tough stance on narcotics, which has led to lengthy prison terms for foreign nationals caught in similar situations.
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Originally published on BBC World on 2/26/2026