BALINEWS reports that the Head of the Denpasar City National Narcotics Agency (BNN), Senior Police Commissioner (Kombes Pol.) Dr. Leo Dedy Defretes, S.H., S.I.K., M.H., has issued a public warning regarding new narcotics smuggling methods in Bali, including cocaine concealed inside wigs.
This alert follows the circulation of a video that went viral on social media showing the arrest of a smuggler in Cartagena, Colombia. In the footage, local anti-narcotics officers are seen cutting into a man’s wig, revealing dozens of small packets of cocaine hidden within. The seized contraband was labeled “COCAÍNA” before the Cartagena anti-narcotics police finally handcuffed the suspect.
Officer Leo Dedy explained that his agency has encountered various narcotics smuggling tactics being used in Bali—ranging from resin smeared on the walls of suitcases and drugs swallowed by couriers, to narcotics hidden within women’s beauty products. However, Leo noted that using wigs for smuggling is entirely new.
“Regarding this latest case—smuggling via hair, specifically wigs—this is a new development. This is a modus operandi that we must remain vigilant about, especially here in Bali,” he stated.
As a primary gateway for international tourists, Bali is particularly vulnerable to exploitation by transnational narcotics smuggling networks. According to Officer Leo Dedy, any new smuggling tactic that emerges at airports elsewhere in the world could potentially be attempted in Bali. Because of this, early detection is crucial before such methods are actually employed on the ground locally.
Head of the Denpasar City National Narcotics Agency (BNN),
Senior Police Commissioner Dr. Leo Dedy Defretes,
Regarding strengthening inspection procedures, Leo Dedy said his agency is open to discussing this with relevant airport authorities. “It is important for us to discuss this with relevant stakeholders, such as Customs and Immigration at the airport—those who guard our aerial borders. This means that, in addition to using body scanners, we must also be even more suspicious of people’s hair during inspections,” he said.
He added that the BNN (National Narcotics Agency) uses such international videos for internal training, sharing them with field officers as a reference for the types of smuggling methods they should watch for.
To date, there have been no official reports of cocaine being smuggled via wigs in Bali. Nevertheless, following this early warning from the Denpasar City BNN, oversight at Bali’s entry points is expected to be further tightened in the very near future.
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