Eyewitness News – BADUNG
18.September.2026
The Ngurah Rai Immigration Office, in coordination with the Bali Regional Office of the Directorate General of Immigration and the Bali Regional Police, conducted a joint operation on Thursday night, September 17, 2026. The operation targeted three areas—Umalas, Seminyak, and Canggu—focusing on foreign nationals suspected of abusing their stay permits by working as commercial sex workers. The joint team detained 13 foreign nationals who are currently undergoing further examination at the Ngurah Rai Immigration Office.
All officers deployed to their respective target locations at 5:00 PM WITA. In Canggu, officers located a Russian woman identified by the initials IP at a villa. She is suspected of violating her visa conditions by working as a sex worker through WhatsApp bookings. Further field investigation led officers to an apartment where a Ukrainian man, identified as OG, was detained for allegedly facilitating the operation. Immigration system checks revealed that IP held a valid Remote Worker permit active until November 8, 2026, while OG’s Investor Stay Permit (ITAS) expired on October 14, 2025.
In Seminyak, the team traced an online platform suspected of advertising prostitution services before placing a villa on Jalan Bidadari under surveillance. At the location, officers detained three Nigerian women with the initials JFP, ECM, and HOU. All three held expired Internship Program Visit Visas, with overstays recorded at 58 days, 94 days, and 134 days, respectively.
Meanwhile, in Umalas, officers acted on intelligence gathered from Telegram channels to monitor a local villa. They apprehended four foreign women: three Russian nationals (DK, AG, and KS) and one Kazakhstani national (AS), all holding visit visas with varying validity periods. In the same area, officers detained four additional Nigerian women (HBO, MOL, GO, and TE) suspected of engaging in similar violations. All foreign nationals detained across the three locations were brought to the Ngurah Rai Immigration Office for further verification of their identities, travel documents, and preliminary statements.
Overall, of the 13 detained individuals, eight were women apprehended in Umalas (four Nigerians, three Russians, and one Kazakhstani). Three other women, all Nigerian nationals, were detained in Seminyak. In Canggu, officers detained one Russian woman and one Ukrainian man who allegedly served as a facilitator for the prostitution ring.
​Head of the Ngurah Rai Immigration Office, Muhamad Novyandri, stated that the operation was launched following tip-offs from the public, which were subsequently investigated in the field.
Methods included gathering intelligence, undercover work, and online verification. “All 13 foreign nationals are currently undergoing further investigation for alleged violations of Article 75 of Law No. 6/2011 on Immigration, as well as potential criminal offenses. They face strict sanctions, including deportation, a 5-year entry ban, and possible criminal prosecution under applicable laws,” Novyandri emphasized.
Head of the Bali Regional Office of the Directorate General of Immigration, Ramdhani, stressed that the crackdown is part of Bali Immigration’s commitment to maintaining regional stability, safety, and respect for local laws and cultural values.
“We fully support Bali’s tourism, but we leave no room for foreign nationals who abuse their stay permits, break the law, or damage Bali’s reputation as a destination,” he said.
​Concluding his statement, Ramdhani reaffirmed that monitoring of foreign nationals will continue to be strengthened as part of Immigration’s active role in the community. This aligns with directives from the Director General of Immigration, Hendarsam Marantoko, stating that Immigration must serve the public through quality service, optimal supervision, and fair law enforcement. Appreciation was also extended to the Bali Regional Police and the local community for supporting immigration enforcement through information sharing and field collaboration.
Reporter : Daniel Herry
