Two foreign nationals have been arrested by the Bali Police Narcotics Directorate after being found cultivating marijuana using a hydroponic system inside their rented house in Denpasar, Bali.
The suspects, identified as NR, a 31-year-old Dutch man, and KV, a 33-year-old Russian woman, were detained during a police raid on a house located on Jalan Bina Kusuma IV, Ubung Kaja, North Denpasar.
Senior Commissioner Radiant, Director of the Bali Regional Police Narcotics Investigation Unit, said the arrest followed information from residents who noticed suspicious activity at the property.
“The disclosure and raid began with information from the public regarding suspicious activity, namely a clandestine hydroponic marijuana drug lab operated by a foreign national in a rented house on Jalan Bina Kusuma IV, Ubung Kaja, North Denpasar, which also served as the crime scene,” he stated during a press conference at Bali Police Headquarters on Friday, 3 October 2025.
Police conducted surveillance around the area before moving in on Wednesday, 1 October 2025, at around 12:30 p.m. WITA, when they searched the property and confirmed the existence of a sophisticated indoor plantation.
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Hydroponic Setup and Evidence Seized
Inside the house, officers discovered several rooms arranged for hydroponic cultivation. Each section contained lighting, temperature-control systems, water and fertiliser distribution equipment, and CCTV surveillance.
Investigators found hundreds of polybags and soil media, marijuana seedlings, and plants up to one metre tall. They also confiscated digital scales and other tools allegedly used to support the hydroponic operation.
Commissioner Radiant said the evidence showed that the suspect had built a hydroponic tent equipped with full irrigation and electrical systems, allowing the plants to grow from seeds to near-harvest stage.
NR admitted he had purchased the marijuana seeds from an individual identified only as “C” in May 2025 and had been cultivating them since. He claimed he had not yet harvested the plants.
“The investigation revealed evidence that the suspect deliberately built a hydroponic tent, including electricity and irrigation, from seed sowing to cultivation in hydroponic pots and the growing area for the ready-to-harvest marijuana plants,” Radiant explained.
Further Investigation and Legal Process
Police are now tracing the whereabouts of “C” and investigating whether the couple distributed marijuana to others.
Both suspects have been detained at the Bali Regional Police Detention Centre and charged under Article 111 paragraph (2) of Law No. 35 of 2009 on Narcotics, which covers possession, control, and production of Class I narcotics in plant form weighing more than one kilogram or more than five plants.
If convicted, they face a minimum sentence of five years and up to twenty years’ imprisonment, or life imprisonment, and a fine ranging from IDR 800 million to IDR 8 billion.
Senior Commissioner Radiant urged the public to remain vigilant and to report any similar activities.
“We are very grateful for the information provided and urge the public that if they encounter suspicious activity such as this, please report it immediately to the nearest police station,” he said.
“We guarantee the security and confidentiality of the reporter and will take firm action against all forms of drug distribution, which are very dangerous and damaging to the nation’s future.”
