Kompas and Detik report that immigration officials in Bali have detained 13 foreign nationals under suspicion of working illegally in the commercial sex trade. The thirteen were arrested on Thursday, 17 September 2026, in joint raids targeting three areas of Bali – Umalas, Seminyak, and Canggu.
The Head of the Ngurah Rai Immigration Office, Muhamad Novyandri, in a written statement issued on Friday, 18 September 2026, said: “During the operation, the joint team successfully detained 13 foreign nationals who are now undergoing further questioning at the Ngurah Rai Immigration Office.” The 13 foreign nationals are suspected of running or working in a prostitution ring in Bali.
In coordinated raids, immigration teams began moving on their target locations at 5:00 pm local time on Thursday. In Canggu, the team found a female Russian national, identified by the initials IP, at a villa, where she was suspected of misusing her residence permit to work as a sex worker, accepting bookings via WhatsApp. Other elements of the raid led investigators to an apartment where a male Ukrainian national, identified by the initials OG, was detained for allegedly facilitating prostitution appointments.
”Immigration system checks revealed that IP holds a ‘Remote Worker residence permit’ valid until November 8, 2026, while OG’s Investor ITAS (Limited Stay Permit) was recorded as having expired on October 14, 2025,” said Novyandri.
Novyandri angrily said that foreigners acting with impunity will not be tolerated in Bali.
Meanwhile, in a raid in Seminyak, the investigative team encountered an online platform suspected of being used to promote prostitution services that, in turn, led to the team surveilling a villa on Jalan Bidadari. At that villa, the team found three female foreign nationals from Nigeria—identified by the initials JFP, ECM, and HOU. “All three held expired visit permits for an internship program, with overstay periods of 58, 94, and 134 days, respectively,” he said.
Meanwhile, in Umalas, the team acted on information gathered via Telegram Channels and conducted surveillance at a villa. The immigration team found four female foreign nationals—three Russians (DK, AG, and KS) and one Kazakh national (AS)—each holding visit permits with varying validity periods. In the same area, the team encountered another four female foreign nationals from Nigeria (HBO, MOL, GO, and TE) suspected of misusing their visit permits similarly.
”All foreign nationals detained across these three locations were then taken to the Ngurah Rai Immigration Office for further examination regarding their identities and travel documents, and to allow initial formal statements to be taken as part of the continuing investigation,
Novyandri stated that, overall, among the 13 foreign nationals detained, eight were females apprehended during the operation in Umalas (four Nigerian nationals, three Russian nationals, and one Kazakhstani national).
Meanwhile, three other female foreign nationals—all Nigerian—were detained during the raid in Seminyak. “Then, from the operation in Canggu, we detained one female Russian national and one male Ukrainian national, who is suspected of facilitating the prostitution services,” he said.
Novyandri explained that the operation began with initial public information, which investigators later followed up with field investigations. The methods included gathering information, using undercover officers, and verifying details via online platforms.
”The 13 foreign nationals are currently undergoing further questioning regarding alleged violations of Article 75 of Law Number 6 of 2011 concerning Immigration, as well as potential criminal violations. They all face strict sanctions, ranging from deportation in combination with a five-year entry ban and, additionally, criminal prosecution in accordance with applicable regulations,” Novyandri stated.
Separate reporting from Detik, the Ukrainian man, identified by the initials OG, was the individual apprehended in the series of raids by immigration authorities as the “pimp” coordinating the commercial sex work of the 12 foreign women. The Ukrainian’s stay in Bali was made possible by his Investor Temporary Stay Permit (ITAS), valid until October 14, 2026.
Because of the nature of OG’s activities in Bali, Immigration authorities are seeking to pursue criminal charges against the man in coordination with the Bali Provincial Police Headquarters. Police Commissioner confirmed the pending criminal charges I Made Dimas W., Head of Unit 3, Sub-directorate IV of the General Criminal Investigation Directorate of the Bali Regional Police, at a press conference held at the Ngurah Rai Immigration Office on Friday, 18 September 2026,
According to Officer Dimas, OG’s actions meet the criteria for criminal charges related to facilitating lewd acts and Human Trafficking (TPPO). Police and immigration alleged that OG sold the women’s sexual services via online platforms. Dimas explained that OG would face multiple charges, specifically Articles 420 and 421 of the Criminal Code (KUHP) regarding the facilitation of lewd acts, as well as Article 455 paragraph (1) of the Criminal Code regarding human trafficking.
If convicted in the Denpasar District Court, OG faces a maximum penalty of 15 years in prison.
Meanwhile, the 12 foreign women detained in the operation were determined to be working as sex workers. They will be charged with residence permit violations. Accordingly, the dozen women will likely only be sanctioned with deportation and an indeterminate ban on re-entering Indonesia.
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