Three British nationals are on the brink of freedom and deportation from Indonesia, mere days away from walking out of what they described as "hell-hole" Bali prisons. The group, who faced the terrifying prospect of execution under the country's strict anti-drugs laws, were caught in a plot to smuggle nearly a kilogram of cocaine hidden inside packets of the popular dessert Angel Delight.
From Death Row to Deportation: A Dramatic Reprieve
Lisa Stocker, 39, her partner Jonathan Collyer, 39, and accomplice Phineas Float, 31, all from East Sussex, were arrested earlier this year over a £300,000 cocaine smuggling operation. Their ordeal began on February 1st, when Stocker and Collyer were detained at Bali's international airport following a routine X-ray of their luggage. The scan revealed suspicious packages within their bags.
The couple had travelled from the UK to the holiday island via Qatar. They initially claimed to police they were unaware of the drugs, believing they were simply delivering British treats to a friend. However, their story unravelled, leading to a wider investigation.
Following their arrest, Stocker and Collyer cooperated with authorities, agreeing to act as informants. They helped orchestrate an ambush for Float, who was arrested on February 3rd when he arrived at the Grand Mas Airport Hotel car park to collect the illicit haul.
The Angel Delight Concealment and Court Sentencing
The court in Denpasar heard how the trio had attempted to import 992 grams of high-purity cocaine, concealed within 17 individual packets of Angel Delight. The audacious method of concealment aimed to exploit the appearance of a commonplace British food product.
In a surprising turn of events, prosecutor Made Umbara did not push for the ultimate punishment. Despite Indonesia's famously severe stance on drug trafficking, which often carries a mandatory death penalty, the prosecutor urged Judge Heriyanti to show leniency. The judge subsequently handed down one-year prison sentences in August, a decision viewed as a significant and rare act of judicial tolerance.
Given time already served awaiting trial and sentencing, the one-year term means their release and subsequent deportation is now imminent. A source close to the case stated: "The three of them can consider themselves very lucky. Other people have spent years behind bars for similar crimes - some even told that they'd be executed."
The court also revealed a startling detail about Float's motivation; he allegedly agreed to participate in the high-risk plot for a promised reward of just 500,000 Indonesian Rupiah, equivalent to approximately £22.50.
Context of UK-Indonesia Prisoner Agreements
The pending release of the East Sussex trio follows closely on the heels of another high-profile case involving a British drug mule in Indonesia. Lindsay Sandiford, 69, was freed and repatriated in October after 13 years on death row. She was originally caught in 2012 with £1.6 million worth of cocaine.
Sandiford's release was secured through a bilateral agreement between the UK and Indonesian governments, negotiated by Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper. As part of that deal, her detention was transferred to the United Kingdom, where she is expected to serve a further period in prison. She was repatriated alongside another Briton, Shahab Shahabadi, 35.
The cases highlight the ongoing complexities of dealing with foreign nationals imprisoned under Indonesia's rigid narcotics legislation, and the diplomatic efforts sometimes required to secure their return.
For Stocker, Collyer, and Float, their nightmare in Bali is now days from ending. They are scheduled to be deported directly back to the UK upon their release, avoiding any further incarceration in Indonesia and marking the final chapter of a perilous venture that nearly cost them their lives.
