The high-profile case of the drug lab uncovered at a villa in Tibubeneng back in May continues to unfold. Earlier this month, two suspects revealed details during hearings, and now police have apprehended the alleged mastermind behind the operation.
The Narcotics Crime Unit of the National Police’s Criminal Investigation Division arrested Ukrainian citizen Roman Nazarenko, who had been evading Interpol for months. Roman, who had been on the run since May, was finally captured in Thailand while attempting to board a flight from Pattaya to Dubai. He has now been extradited to Indonesia and will soon face trial. According to Brigadier General Mukti Juharsa, director of the National Police’s narcotics division, Nazarenko had been hiding in Bangkok for 3.5 months.
Roman is believed to have played a pivotal role in establishing the secret lab and overseeing drug production at the villa in the Tibubeneng area of Bali. “This individual was the owner of the product manufactured at the villa, as well as the financier and boss of the couriers and growers we previously arrested,” Mukti Juharsa explained.
Under Indonesian law, Roman and his accomplices face severe penalties, including the death penalty. He has been charged under Article 114, Paragraph 2; Supplementary Article 113, Paragraph 2; Supplementary Article 112, Paragraph 2; and Article 132, Paragraph 2 of Indonesia’s Law No. 35 of 2009 on Narcotics. These charges carry the possibility of the death penalty or life imprisonment, along with a fine of IDR 10 billion.
While death sentences for foreigners are rare and typically reserved for significant drug-related offenses, the court’s decision remains uncertain. The lengthy legal process, which will likely involve multiple appeals, is expected to take several years. During this time, the suspects will remain in custody.
You can add one right now!