Unsuspecting Tourists are Easy Prey in Bali

Good article illustrating just how easy it is to buy all manner of drugs on the streets of Bali, and, more than that, just how closely intertwined with the drug dealers Bali's corrupt "police force" are.

An undercover reporter from Channel Seven's Today Tonight program was offered "more illegal drugs than most Aussies could see in a lifetime" within minutes of starting the camera.

Criminologist Dr Paul Wilson studied Indonesia's drug scene and said evidence suggested police and dealers did target unsuspecting tourists.

"There's no doubt that the Indonesian criminal justice system is pretty corrupt."

He goes on to explain how Indonesian police pounce on tourists silly enough to buy drugs from the streets, demanding money to save themselves from being charged with a very serious drug-related offence.

I must admit, I thought this was common knowledge. I have heard umpteen reports of similar incidents and bullying tactics. Not just for drugs either; other black market products are watched, and purchasers are easy targets for the Balinese police. In their eyes, it is not the local dealers and peddlers that are the problem, it is the foreign tourists looking to score. Demand leads to supply, not the other way around in their corrupt world.

Money and greed drives them. Justice went out the door there years ago.