Local media in Bali, including NusaBali.com and BaliPost.com, report that three Russian women were apprehended in the Seminyak area of the island and subsequently deported by immigration officials.
The three, identified in the press only by their initials, were expelled from Indonesia on Friday, 23 August 2024. They traveled on Turkish Airlines T67 to Istanbul and then to Kazan, Russia, on TK 427, following a stop in Istanbul.
Following the deportation process, Silmy Karin, the Director General of Indonesian Immigration, said: “Immigration, on both the central and regional levels, is exercising stricter measures in conducting surveillance operations. Our commitment is to provide the best service for Indonesian and foreign citizens following the protocols of due process under the law, all executed humanely, together with the PORA Team (Foreigner Surveillance Team).”
The three Russian women were apprehended on Wednesday, 21 August 2024, by the Class I Immigration Office of Ngurah Rai as part of a surveillance program targeting foreigners living in Bali – codenamed Operation “Jagratara,” a name denoting a state of unfailing alertness. As reported by NusaBali.com, the program was led and coordinated by an intelligence and enforcement team from the Immigration Office stationed at Bali’s airport.
The actual arrest took place at a villa located in the Seminyak area of Kuta, where the three were determined to have violated the terms of their Indonesian visas by allegedly being involved in the practice of prostitution. Suhendra, the Head of the Ngurah Rai Immigration Office, said his office had received intelligence information regarding suspicious activities at the targeted villa.
“We received a report of alleged prostitution practices at a villa in Seminyak. Based on intelligence information, we conducted a raid and managed to secure two women from Russia, namely AA, 32, using an ITAS Investor visa, and NP, a 26-year-old with a visitor residence permit,” said Suhendra via a press statement issued on Saturday, 24 August 2024.
During the immigration raid, his party found several pieces of evidence, including conversations and cash, which strengthened the suspicion of prostitution activities at the location. The two perpetrators and the evidence were immediately taken to the Ngurah Rai Immigration Office for further examination.
Suhendra emphasized that the Jagratara Operation was part of the Immigration Department’s commitment to maintaining security and order in Bali. “We are committed to continuing to carry out this operation routinely to prevent immigration violations and illegal activities involving foreign nationals. This operation is also our effort to ensure that Bali remains safe and comfortable for all parties,” he said.
During the raid, immigration officials found several pieces of evidence, including telephone text chats and sums of cash, all supporting that prostitution practices were occurring at the location. Suhendra said that the Jagratara Operation was part of Immigration’s commitment to maintaining security and order in Bali. “We are committed to routinely carrying out this operation to prevent immigration violations and illegal activities involving foreign nationals. This operation is also our effort to ensure that Bali remains safe and comfortable for all parties,” he said.
Suhendra hoped the public would continue reporting suspicious activities to the authorities.
Data from the immigration office shows that 85 foreigners were deported from January until 11 August 2024. The greatest number were from Nigeria (23), the PRC (17), and the USA (12). Those deported were expelled due to misusing their immigration permits or involvement in criminal cases.
71 people have been banned from entering Indonesia, 9 have had their stay permits revoked, and 121 were held temporarily in the immigration detention center.
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