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Drug smuggler Renae Lawrence has been released from prison in Indonesia
41-year-old Lawrence is expected to be on a 9.50pm fight home to Australia
There was speculation Lawrence would speak at a media conference
Lawrence will be deported and has been banned from re-entering Indonesia
She faces two arrest warrants upon arrival in Australia for a high-speed chase

By Zoe Zaczek and Brittany Chain For Daily Mail Australia and Aap

Published: 04:14 EST, 21 November 2018 | Updated: 05:42 EST, 21 November 2018

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Convicted drug smuggler Renae Lawrence has been released from prison in Indonesia and banned from re-entering the country.

Lawrence, 41, is expected to be on a 9.50pm fight home to Australia after spending 13 years behind bars for her involvement in a trafficking syndicate.

She was arrested at Bali's main airport in April 2005 with 2.7 kilograms of heroin strapped to her body as part of a failed bid to smuggle a total of eight kilograms of the drug into Australia with a number of other mules - later dubbed the Bali Nine.

Lawrence will make the 90 minute journey from Bangli Prison to Denpasar Airport where she will be processed by the immigration department.

Convicted drug smuggler Renae Lawrence (pictured, centre) has been released from prison in Indonesia

Lawrence, 41, is expected to be on a 9.50pm fight home to Australia after spending 13 years behind bars for her involvement in a trafficking syndicate

Lawrence will make the 90 minute journey from Bangli Prison to Denpasar Airport

Issues with paperwork were blamed for Lawrence's delayed release on Wednesday afternoon but it's understood all immigration and release papers have now been completed.

About 50 heavily armed police officers poured out of Bangli Prison where they were briefed for her imminent release, Nine News reported.

Just before 5pm local time officials addressed the media about Lawrence but she was no where to be seen.

Maryoto Sumadi, head of Bali's justice and human rights office, spoke in Indonesian before holding up her release papers and saying: 'She is a free woman'.

Mr Sumadi said Lawrence would be deported and banned from re-entering Indonesia for life.

Justice Department officials conducted a health check and said Lawrence was found to be in good health.

At the conclusion of the conference, guards and media flooded the prison door in anticipation for the release of Lawrence.

Issues with paperwork were blamed for Lawrence's delayed release on Wednesday afternoon but it's understood all immigration and release papers have now been completed

Maryoto Sumadi, head of Bali's justice and human rights office, spoke in Indonesian before holding up her release papers and saying: 'She is a free woman'

There was originally speculation Lawrence would speak at a media conference

Lawrence eventually walked from the doors, covered by a heavily armed mobile brigade police.

She wore sunglasses and hung her head as she was swept into a black SUV with dark-tinted windows.

The convicted drug smuggler remained silent and ignored questions journalists shouted at her.

There was originally speculation Lawrence would speak at the media conference.

Lawrence will reportedly be issued a new Australian passport to allow her to leave Indonesia.

She should touch down in Australia at 5am on Thursday morning.

Just before 5pm local time officials addressed the media about Lawrence but she was no where to be seen

Maryoto Sumadi, head of Bali's justice and human rights office, spoke in Indonesian before holding up her release papers and saying: 'She is a free woman'

Lawrence appeared after the the conference concluded, flooded by guards and wearing sunglasses (pictured in car on the way to the airport)

Upon her return, Lawrence is facing two arrest warrants from NSW Police, which have been outstanding since 2005.

One warrant alleges she was involved in a high-speed chase in a stolen car with fellow Bali Nine member Matthew Norman.

On Wednesday, Australian Home Affairs Minister Peter Dutton said he has 'no sympathy' for the ex panel-beater, and suggested she face the full extent of the law.

'If you commit that kind of offence, there is a heavy penalty to pay, and it doesn't give you credit when you get back to Australia,' he told Sky News.

But NSW Police Commissioner Mick Fuller suggested a deal with Lawrence's lawyers was more likely than a fresh set of handcuffs on the tarmac.

Lawrence was originally sentenced to life in prison but her sentence was reduced to 20 years on appeal.

She served almost 14 years after numerous reductions for good behaviour.

Lawrence was reportedly prescribed anti-depressants by a local doctor to deal with anxiety before the long-awaited release.

Upon her return, Lawrence is facing two arrest warrants from NSW Police, which have been outstanding since 2005

Police patrolled Bangli Prison ahead of Lawrence's release on Wednesday afternoon (pictured)

On Wednesday, Australian Home Affairs Minister Peter Dutton said he has 'no sympathy' for Lawrence (centre), and suggested she face the full extent of the law

Prison governor Made Suwendra praised Lawrence for contributing to prison life in Bangli and being a co-operative inmate.

Mr Suwendra hoped Lawrence would be helped to integrate back into life in Australia.

'Renae Lawrence is in a healthy condition. She seems to be happy, but also a bit nervous,' Mr Suwendra told AFP.

Daily Mail Australia understands Lawrence will be given a few days to 'settle in' at her Newcastle home before she responds to the outstanding police charges from over a decade ago.

A court date will likely be set for December in Gosford, on the NSW central coast.

Renae Lawrence (pictured) days after her arrest in Bali on April 17, 2005 - she was released from jail on Wednesday

Renae Lawrence (pictured) a week after her arrest in 2005 - she will fly home from Bali on Wednesday night - but has outstanding criminal offences awaiting her arrival in Australia

Lawrence is the only Bali Nine member to be released.

Ringleaders Andrew Chan and Myuran Sukumaran were executed in 2015 and Tan Duc Thahn Nguyen died of stomach cancer in May earlier this year.

Martin Stephens, 42, Michael Czugaj, 32, Scott Rush, 33, and Si Yi Chen, 33, remain in prison where they are serving life sentences, with little chance of release.