JakartaPost-Aug 9
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 patrol. Immigration Minister Agus Andrianto said the task force was created to deliver a swift response to violations by international travelers, deter immigration offenses 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. 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. According to Bali Police, 226 foreign nationals were implicated in criminal activities on the island last year, marking a 16 percent increase from 194 the previous year. The majority of those convicted were U.S. citizens, followed by Australians, Russians and British nationals. The National Narcotics Agency (BNN) 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. Read more at: https://www.thejakartapost.com/indonesia/2025/08/09/bali-immigration-forms-a-special-task-force-to-crack-down-on-unruly-tourists.html.
