A West Cumbrian man alleged to have been caught with 1kg of drugs while in Bali has appeared in court.
Thomas Parker, 32, was arrested after police said they recovered 1kg of MDMA – the main ingredient of ecstasy – in a mail package.
He was arrested at an AirBnB on January 21 and police said he was allegedly collecting the package and two mobile phones.
The arrest was only publicised when he was brought out by authorities at a press conference on Thursday, March 6.
While it was initially believed he could face the death penalty if he was found guilty of drug dealing, Cumbria Crack has been told that he in fact is looking at 12 months in prison.
Cumbria Crack understands that at the most recent hearing, the prosecutor concluded that the police investigation found no evidence to suggest that the package was linked to Thomas and suggested a maximum of 12 months imprisonment, which will be discounted by the judge at a sentencing hearing in May 20.
Parker claims that he did not order the package, but it was sent by a drug dealer friend, Nicky, who he had known for around two years and regularly spoke to via the Telegram messaging app.
He told the court that he suspected the package was filled with drugs, as his friend was a dealer.
The Daily Mail reported that Parker said he initially refused, but later agreed to pick it up.
It is understood that he grew up in Seaton, near Workington, and was known as Matthew.
It is believed he was a pupil at the then Stainburn School, studied at Lakes College, Lillyhall, to become an electrician and emigrated to Australia.
Police said they noticed him acting suspiciously while collecting a package from a motorcycle taxi driver and when they approached him, he fled, discarding the package.
He was traced to a villa, where he was arrested.
He remains in custody.
