Melbourne nightclub promoters arrested in Bali over alleged links to cocaine ring

Two nightclub promoters from Melbourne have been arrested in Bali following a series of raids by police investigating a major cocaine trafficking syndicate in the resort town of Canggu.

William Cabantog, 35, and David Van Iersel, 38 were arrested on Saturday by Balinese police, who are understood to have have seized CCTV footage from a venue in Canggu, where one of the men worked as a promoter.

Police are also believed to have found a set of scales during several raids over the weekend, but it remains unclear if the men were found in possession of any drugs.

A Balinese police source confirmed that two Australians had been arrested, but no charges had been laid and the investigation was ongoing.

The Age and The Sydney Morning Herald can reveal another Melbourne nightclub figure fled to Singapore before his apartment was raided by police after receiving a tip-off.

Several other Australians are implicated in the investigation, according to sources in Melbourne and Bali.

Mr Cabantog is a former ambassador for Crown Casino venue Club 23 and worked as a promoter and bar manager for some of the city's biggest clubs, including Eve and Boutique.

He relocated to Bali in September last year, where he promoted several upmarket nightclubs to international tourists, particularly Australians.

The 35-year-old regularly used social media to spruik the tourist island to his network of friends in Melbourne.

"So blessed to live in paradise and to have my friends to experience this beautiful island together. If your [sic] looking at this photo and your [sic] in the cold Melbourne weather f--- it! Book the next flight over here so you can be in the next photo and the next Bali hangover," Mr Cabantog posted on Facebook last month.

Mr Van Iersel moved to Bali almost a year ago, and had previously worked as a manager at St Kilda bar, Captain Baxter.

He is understood to have grown up in the Keilor area and attended University High School in Parkville.

On Monday, the 38 year-old was seen being escorted at Denpasar police station, where he and Mr Cabantog have been held over the weekend.

Indonesia is renowned for its zero tolerance police towards illicit drugs, which resulted in the execution of Bali Nine ringleaders Myuran Sukumaran and Andrew Chan in 2015.

Despite the obvious risks and explicit warnings at Denpasar Airport, Australian tourists continue to run the gauntlet and take drugs at Bali's late-night bars and clubs.

In February, Brisbane man Brendon Luke Johnsson, 43, was sentenced by a Bali court to five years and four months in jail, after he was arrested with nearly 12 grams of cocaine.

Mr Johnsson and his partner Remi Purwanti, 43, an Indonesian national, had initially faced a possible death sentence if convicted on more serious charges under the country's strict drug laws.

He was ordered to serve the sentence in Bali's infamous Kerobokan Prison, where Schapelle Corby spent nine years after her conviction for smuggling 4.2 kilograms of cannabis in 2005. She was originally handed a 20-year sentence.

The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade confirmed it had been notified.

"The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade is aware that two Australians have been arrested in Bali, Indonesia," it said.

Source: The Age, Cameron Houston and Amilia Rosa, July 22, 2019

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