Foreign nationals from China, Taiwan and Malaysia who were detained on allegations of conducting cybercrime and visa violations are lined up on the ground following a raid on a villa in Tabanan, Bali on June 26, 2024.- AP
JAKARTA: Indonesian immigration authorities have detained 103 foreign nationals suspected of misusing residency permits and involvement in cybercrime during a crackdown on the holiday island of Bali, said director general of Immigration, Silmy Karim.
The operation, conducted by the Directorate of Immigration Supervision and Enforcement, led to the apprehension of individuals including 14 Taiwanese citizens, with others’ identities yet to be confirmed.
"Such supervision operations are routine nationwide and are crucial in combatting crimes perpetrated by foreigners, aligning with efforts to eradicate online gambling,” he said in a statement on Thursday (June 27).
Supervision and Enforcement director Safar Muhammad Godam explained the sweep began at 10am local time on Wednesday, targetting a villa in Marga sub-district, Tabanan district, where officers observed foreign nationals.
By 5pm local time, authorities had apprehended 103 individuals - comprising 12 women and 91 men - suspected of lacking proper documentation and misusing immigration permits.
"We’re investigating them for potential cybercrime links due to the discovery of numerous computers and mobile phones at the scene,” Safar added.
All the detained foreign nationals, along with seized evidence, were secured by 6pm local time and will undergo further examination at the Bali Immigration Detention Centre. - Bernama
