GIANYAR, DEWATA.NEWS – Indonesian authorities have revealed further details about two Russian nationals arrested in connection with a clandestine drug laboratory producing Mephedrone in Gianyar, Bali, including their roles and backgrounds within the operation.
The suspects, identified by the initials N (29) and ST (35), were arrested by the National Narcotics Agency (BNN) after authorities uncovered an illegal drug production facility operating inside a villa on Jalan Padat Karya in Blahbatuh District.
The case is part of a broader investigation into an international narcotics network previously exposed by BNN in Bali.
Acting Deputy for Eradication at BNN, Brigadier General Roy Hardi Siahaan, said the suspect identified as N played a key role as the chemist responsible for producing the synthetic drug Mephedrone.
“During interrogation, N admitted that she had studied biology at a university in Russia. Her academic background was in the biology field,” Roy said during a press conference in Gianyar on Saturday (March 7, 2026).
Authorities said N used her scientific knowledge to process the drug using chemical materials delivered to Bali.
Meanwhile, the second suspect, ST, was responsible for receiving the chemical precursors shipped from China. According to investigators, ST previously served in the Russian military.
“ST admitted that he once served in the Russian army, specifically in an intelligence unit. He said he is no longer active in the military due to a nerve condition affecting his back,” Roy explained.
Investigators believe the operation was directed by another Russian national identified by the initials SK, who remains at large and is currently listed as a wanted suspect.
During questioning, N told investigators that she agreed to operate the laboratory in exchange for payments ranging from IDR 20 million to IDR 30 million from SK.
ST, meanwhile, reportedly received free accommodation at a villa in the tourist area of Sukawati, Gianyar, as compensation for assisting the operation.
Immigration records show that SK arrived in Bali in January 2026, followed shortly by N and ST in the same month.
Authorities say the operation began soon after their arrival. Using the chemical materials delivered from China, N reportedly produced approximately 7.3 kilograms of Mephedrone in crystal form within about two months.
According to investigators, the drug production activities were typically carried out late at night between 00:00 and 04:00 WITA in an effort to avoid attracting attention.
Authorities said the suspects were arrested before the drugs could be distributed.
“The drugs had not yet circulated. Once the production process was completed and we confirmed the substance was Mephedrone, we immediately arrested the suspects,” Roy said.
The investigation began after Customs officers at Soekarno–Hatta International Airport detected suspicious packages shipped from China through an international courier service.
The parcels contained chemical materials suspected to be drug precursors and were addressed to foreign nationals residing in Bali.
Following this discovery, BNN investigators tracked the shipment recipients, leading to the arrest of N and ST in separate locations in Gianyar in the early hours of Friday (March 6, 2026).
Authorities continue to search for the third suspect, SK, believed to be the coordinator of the operation.