Immigration Detains 13 Foreign Nationals in Bali Suspected of Involvement in Prostitution

JAKARTA, KOMPAS.com - The Ngurah Rai Immigration Office and the Bali Regional Office of the Directorate General of Immigration, together with the Bali Regional Police, secured 13 foreign nationals suspected of misusing their residence permits by engaging as commercial sex workers (CSWs).

These 13 foreign nationals were detained during a joint operation on Thursday (17/9/2026). The operation targeted three areas: Umalas, Seminyak, and Canggu.

"During the operation, the Joint Team successfully secured 13 foreign nationals who are now undergoing further examination at the Ngurah Rai Immigration Office," said Ngurah Rai Immigration Head Muhamad Novyandri in a written statement on Friday (18/9/2026).

Novyandri said the entire team began moving to their respective target locations at 5:00 p.m. Central Indonesia Time (WITA).

In Canggu, the team found a Russian female foreign national identified by the initials IP at a villa, suspected of misusing her residence permit to engage in commercial sex work using a booking system via WhatsApp.

He said further field investigation led the team to an apartment where a Ukrainian male foreign national, identified as OG, was detained for allegedly facilitating these activities.

"Immigration system checks showed that IP holds a valid Remote Worker residence permit until November 8, 2026, while OG’s Investor ITAS had expired on October 14, 2025," he explained.

Meanwhile, in Seminyak, the team investigated an online platform suspected of being used to promote prostitution services before monitoring a villa on Jalan Bidadari.

At the location, the team found three Nigerian female foreign nationals identified as JFP, ECM, and HOU.

"All three hold expired Internship Program visit permits, with overstays of 58 days, 94 days, and 134 days respectively," he said.

In Umalas, the team acted based on tracking through a Telegram channel and conducted surveillance at a villa.

There, the team found four female foreign nationals, consisting of three Russians (initials DK, AG, and KS) and one Kazakhstani (initial AS), each holding visit permits with varying validity periods.

Furthermore, in the same area, the team found another four Nigerian female foreign nationals (initials HBO, MOL, GO, and TE) suspected of misusing their residence permits with a similar modus operandi.

"All foreign nationals seized from these three locations were then taken to the Ngurah Rai Immigration Office for further examination of their identities, travel documents, and initial statements as a basis for deeper investigation," he said.

Novyandri stated that overall, among the 13 detained foreign nationals, eight were female: four Nigerians, three Russians, and one Kazakhstani from the Umalas operation.

Three other female foreign nationals, all Nigerian, were from the Seminyak operation.

"From the Canggu operation, one Russian female foreign national and one Ukrainian male foreign national, suspected of facilitating prostitution services, were secured," he added.

Novyandri noted that the operation was conducted based on initial information from the public followed by field verification.

Methods used included gathering evidence, undercover officers, and verification through online platforms.

"All 13 foreign nationals are currently undergoing further investigation for alleged violations of Article 75 of Law Number 6 of 2011 concerning Immigration and potential other criminal offenses. They face strict sanctions including deportation, a five-year ban from entering Indonesia, and criminal proceedings as stipulated by law," he said.