Bali immigration forms a special task force to crack down on unruly tourists

The Star

4 days ago

JAKARTA: The Immigration and Correctional Services Ministry has recently formed a special task force to monitor unruly tourists in Bali, amid growing reports of immigration violations and criminal activity involving foreigners on the popular holiday island.
The task force is made up of 100 immigration officials who will conduct regular and random patrols using motorcycles and cars. These patrols will focus on 10 popular tourist hotspots, especially areas with frequent reported violations, including Canggu in North Kuta, Seminyak, Kerobokan, Matahari Terbit and Benoa Harbors, Pecatu, Mertasari Beach, Kuta, Gianyar, Nusa Dua and Jimbaran.
Officials will be equipped with safety vests and body cameras during their patrols, authorities stated. Immigration Minister Agus Andrianto said the task force was created to deliver a swift response to violations by international travelers, deter immigration offences and protect the safety of local communities.
'This initiative is a direct response to President Prabowo Subianto's mandate to uphold stability and security in Bali, one of Indonesia's foremost tourist destinations,' Agus stated during the task force's inauguration ceremony in Denpasar on Tuesday (Aug 5).
Bali has witnessed a significant rise in immigration violations by foreign nationals in recent years, driven largely by overtourism. Authorities have reported widespread cases of tourists overstaying their visas, while local communities have voiced concerns over foreigners operating unlicensed businesses on the island, ranging from villa and motorbike rentals to unofficial tour guiding.
Furthermore, foreign tourists have frequently been reported engaging in unruly behaviour in public areas or disregarding local traditions.
The tourism boom on the resort island has also been accompanied by a rise in criminal activity. Earlier this week, an Australian man was arrested in Bali after allegedly stealing a car belonging to a local and lighting it on fire. The man, from Hobart, Tasmania, also hit another foreigner in the driveway during his escape.
Last week, authorities arrested two foreign nationals, an Azerbaijani and an Uzbek, suspected of carrying out two robberies targeting money changers in Bali. Both are believed to be members of a group that preyed on money exchange businesses providing cash-on-delivery services to hotels and villas.
In June, Indonesian law enforcement detained three foreign suspects accused of opening fire on two Australian men at a villa in Badung, a popular tourist district, resulting in the death of one victim. In December of last year, a 48-year-old Ukrainian man was reportedly kidnapped and robbed in Kuta, one of the busiest tourist hubs in Badung Regency.
According to Bali Police, 226 foreign nationals were implicated in criminal activities on the island last year, marking a 16 per cent increase from 194 the previous year. The majority of those convicted were US citizens, followed by Australians, Russians and British nationals.
The National Narcotics Agency has also revealed that Bali has increasingly become a critical hub for transnational drug trafficking in recent years. Authorities have noted a growing presence of prominent South American cartels, as well as Ukrainian and Russian drug networks operating on the island.
Investigations have also uncovered narcotics networks linked to South-East Asia's Golden Triangle, spanning northern Myanmar, Laos and Thailand, as well as the Golden Crescent, which covers Afghanistan, Pakistan and Iran.
Bali police arrested more than 1,300 people for drug-related offences last year, marking an almost 23 per cent increase compared to the previous year. They also seized 21 kilograms of methamphetamine, over 18,000 ecstasy pills and nearly 90 kg of cannabis during various operations in 2024.
Acting Director General of Immigration Yuldi Yusman said that immigration officials will continue to intensify monitoring of unruly foreigners both in Bali and across the nation. 'These patrol operations are essential to maintaining national security and public order, deterring potential violations and reinforcing public trust in our immigration services,' Yuldi said. - The Jakarta Post/ANN