British woman may face death penalty over cocaine smuggling

A British woman may face the death penalty for alleged cocaine smuggling. Photo / File

A 55-year-old British housewife could face the death penalty in Indonesia after she was arrested allegedly attempting to smuggle more than 4kg of cocaine into Bali.

Customs officers named the woman as Lindsay June Sandiford from Redcar, a seaside town in the northeast of England.

The woman was arrested at Bali's Ngurah Rai International Airport on May 19 after arriving on a flight from Bangkok.

It's understood another two British nationals have also been arrested, along with a person travelling on an Indian passport.

Police are expected to reveal further details.

The head of Customs at the airport, Made Wijaya, confirmed Sandiford would face charges that could see her sentenced to death.

"After weighing, the total cocaine is 4.791kg," he told AAP.

Wijaya said the drugs were worth RP23.9 billion (A$2.6 million)

"This is a big international network. The charge against them would carry the death penalty," he said.

- AAP