Trial of a woman from Paraná arrested with cocaine hidden in shampoo bottles in Indonesia could take up to a year and a half, lawyer estimates

The trial of Thania Cristina dos Santos, 36, from Paraná, arrested with 3.6 kg of liquid cocaine hidden in bottles of shampoo and other cosmetics in Indonesia, could take from a year to a year and a half before a final conviction. The estimate is from lawyer Gustavo Paiva, appointed by the Ministry of Justice to monitor the case in Brazil.

Born in Cascavel, in western Paraná, Thania was arrested red-handed on October 6, after landing at Bali airport. She remains detained in a police unit while Indonesian authorities investigate the case. Until the last update of this report, there had been no formal complaint filed with the Court.

Images from airport security cameras show the Brazilian arriving at the location and going through inspection. See above.

According to local authorities, the seizure is among the largest of liquid cocaine ever made in Bali.

According to Paiva, after the investigation is completed, the case will be forwarded to the Prosecutor's Office, responsible for deciding whether to file a complaint for international drug trafficking. The lawyer explained that the deadline for a possible conviction may vary depending on the progress of the case.

"The average process in Asian countries, especially in Indonesia, takes between a year and a year and a half from prison to final conviction," he said.

The lawyer also reported that the Brazilian has been cooperating with the authorities since her arrest. According to Indonesian police, Thania confessed to transporting the drug and stated that she would receive US$50,000, approximately R$249,000, to deliver it to another person in Bali.

According to Paiva, spontaneous confession can be considered by the Court when defining a possible sentence. However, the amount of cocaine seized and the way the drug was hidden can also influence the decision.

"There is a condition of benefit for spontaneous confession, but also, on the other hand, we have to take into account that the authorities will consider the quantity and condition of the drug", he explained.

Indonesian law provides for strict penalties for drug trafficking, including life imprisonment and the death penalty. According to the lawyer, it is not yet possible to say what punishment could be applied to the Brazilian woman.

Thania remains detained in a Bali police unit pending the conclusion of investigations.

According to Gustavo Paiva, representatives of the Brazilian consular service managed to talk to the woman from Paraná, who stated that she was calm, despite the situation.

The family was also informed by Itamaraty that the Brazilian woman must remain detained until the end of the investigation and the Prosecutor's Office's decision on whether to file a complaint.

Itamaraty informed g1 that it provides consular assistance to the Brazilian woman.

Indonesia has one of the strictest anti-drug laws in the world and provides for penalties of up to life in prison or death for certain crimes related to drug trafficking.

Despite this, the country has not carried out executions since 2016. The new Indonesian Penal Code, in force since January 2026, also establishes rules for a probationary period of ten years in death sentences, with the possibility of converting the sentence into life imprisonment, in accordance with legal requirements.

Gustavo Paiva explained that a possible transfer of Thania to serve her sentence in Brazil would depend on the conviction, legal requirements and the existence of applicable international agreements.

For now, the Brazilian has not been tried and there is no prediction of a transfer.