Australian arrested for trying to bring marijuana to Bali

A 32-year-old Australian man is reportedly being held by police in Bali after he allegedly went on the run for 10 hours after marijuana and antidepressant pills were found in his luggage.

Joshua James Baker, from Mt Isa in north Queensland, is in police custody but has not yet been officially declared a suspect, according to News.com.au.

Mr Baker was stopped by customs in Bali after arriving in Indonesia from Thailand on Sunday for a holiday.

Police claim the 36 grams of marijuana was found in Mr Baker’s bag when he arrived from Thailand on Sunday

Ngurah Rai Customs and Excise chief Budi Harjanto told the publication his officers became suspicious of Mr Baker after his luggage was scanned.

Inside his bag officers allegedly discovered 36grams of marijuana mixed with loose tobacco and 37 Diazepam anti-depressant pills, Mr Harjanto said. 

Mr Harjanto said the marijuana tested positive in a narcotic test. 

‘He said he brought it only for individual use, for himself. He said the drugs were planned to be used by himself. But we don’t know the truth,’ Mr Harjanto said. 

Customs officers handed Mr Baker over to police on Monday to be interviewed but the 32-year-old allegedly escaped after asking to visit the toilet.

Mr Baker, from Mt Isa in north Queensland, has not yet been officially declared a suspect

Police claim they also discovered 37 Diazepam anti-depressant pills in Mr Baker’s luggage 

He was arrested 10 hours later at a hotel in Kuta, a two-and-a-half hour drive from Bali.

Police are still conducting tests on the Diazepam, Deputy Director of the Narcotic Directorate of Bali Police, Suwardjoko, told News.com.au. 

‘He said that it is an antidepressant. He said he is sick, that he got depression, so he needs the medicine,’ he said. 

‘We haven’t conducted intensive interrogation of him. We will check it in the lab first, after that, we will conduct intensive interrogation.’