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Australian man arrested over Bali cocaine haul

The Australian man was paraded in front of media, wearing an orange jumpsuit and black ski mask.

The Australian man was paraded in front of media, wearing an orange jumpsuit and black ski mask. Photo: Seven Network

An Australian man may face the death penalty after reportedly being arrested in Bali over alleged cocaine smuggling.

The 43-year-old man, who has not been publicly named, was arrested in North Kuta last Thursday, reportedly with 1.5 kilograms of cocaine.

Bali police said on Monday they had confiscated a total of 206 packages of cocaine. They said the man was arrested at the scene where the drugs were allegedly delivered.

Authorities in Bali said potential charges included some that carried a maximum sentence of death.

The man is yet to be charged.

The Seven Network showed photos of the man being paraded before media on Monday. He was wearing an orange jumpsuit and black ski mask.

Bali Police Chief General Daniel Adityajaya said police learned in April of two packages that allegedly contain drugs being sent to a post office.

They allege the Australian man asked a motorbike taxi driver to collect the package.

Bali authorities say the cocaine is estimated to be worth $12 billion Indonesian rupiah ($A1.14 million).

The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade said it was providing consular assistance to an Australian detained in Bali.

“Owing to our privacy obligations we are unable to provide further comment,” DFAT told the ABC.

The arrest comes about six months after five members of the Bali Nine drug smuggling syndicate returned to Australia after nearly two decades behind bars in Indonesia.

Matthew Norman, Scott Rush, Martin Stephens, Si Yi Chen and Michael Czugaj returned home under a deal struck between the Albanese government and Indonesian authorities.

Bali Nine ringleaders Andrew Chan and Myuran Sukumaran were executed in 2015, sparking a diplomatic incident with Australia.

Of the other members of the group, Renae Lawrence was released in 2018 and Tan Duc Than Nguyen died of cancer the same year.

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