DENPASAR, Bali (BPN) – The Immigration Office, through the Bali Becik Task Force, detained 103 foreign nationals, mostly from Taiwan, at a villa in Marga District, Tabanan Regency, Bali, on Wednesday, 26 Juni 2024.
Director of Immigration Surveillance and Enforcement, Saffar Muhammad Godam, stated that they are suspected of committing cyber crimes based on the numerous computers and mobile phones at the villa.
Among the detained foreigners, there are 12 females and 91 males with various types of permits, namely limited stay permits (ITAS), visitor stay permits (ITK), and visa on arrival.
“These foreign nationals arrived in Indonesia separately through different airports. Their activities are suspected of violating their residence permits, specifically involving cyber crimes, with all their targets located outside Indonesia. Officers seized evidence believed to have been used for their activities in Indonesia,” explained Godam on Friday (28 June 2024).
Items found during the raid at the villa included more than 450 mobile phones, iPads, monitors, laptops, a printer, ID cards, and more.
Godam revealed the surveillance took place on Wednesday, June 26, 2024, starting at 10 AM local time, with a part of the immigration team conducting covert operations to monitor a villa in Marga, Tabanan.
At 2 PM, the team received information about foreign nationals being active at the location. Following a briefing, the team immediately moved to the operation site. By 5 PM, the joint team successfully apprehended the 103 foreign nationals. They are temporarily placed at the Denpasar Immigration Detention Center.
Previously, the Bali Becik Task Force also detained several other foreign nationals in operations targeting foreigners’ activities and permits in Bali.
Godam emphasized that routine surveillance operations are conducted not only in Bali but also across Indonesia.
“Furthermore, to all foreigners in Indonesia, especially Bali, to always comply with Indonesian laws and regulations. For the public who suspect immigration violations or criminal activities, you can report them through the Bali Becik hotline,” he concluded.
