Bali Police: Criminal Cases Involving Foreign Nationals in Bali Drop 23 Percent
Bali Police recorded a 23 percent drop in criminal cases involving foreign nationals (WNA) from January to April 2026 compared to the same period in 2025. This data serves as the basis for affirming that the security situation in the tourist areas of the Island of the Gods remains safe and conducive for tourists, including those from abroad. The affirmation was made following a travel warning issued by the South Korean Embassy for its citizens planning to visit Bali.
Bali Police Chief Irjen Pol. Daniel Adityajaya stated that his side understands the concerns expressed by the South Korean Embassy. However, he assured that the apparatus continues to work maximally to maintain a sense of security for tourists, both domestic and international.
“We understand the concerns of the South Korean Embassy and appreciate the coordination that has been established. Bali remains safe, and we continue to work hard to ensure that every tourist, both domestic and international, feels protected,” said Daniel on Thursday (9/4/2026).
As a form of commitment to maintaining security, Bali Police previously conducted Operation Sikat Agung 2026 for 16 days, from 28 January to 12 February 2026.
In that operation, Bali Police successfully uncovered 166 criminal cases and secured 181 suspects.
The details consist of 77 cases of theft with violence (curat), 15 cases of robbery (curas), and 89 cases of motor vehicle theft (curanmor).
In addition to arresting the perpetrators, the police also seized a number of evidence items, including 6 cars, 77 motorcycles, 5 laptops, 8 mobile phones, and cash of Rp 3.6 million.
Not only that, dozens of stolen motor vehicles have also been returned to their rightful owners. Bali Police also successfully dismantled a motor vehicle theft network operating in the Bali region.
Daniel emphasised that the results of Operation Sikat Agung are one of the factors contributing to the decline in crime rates throughout early 2026.
Post-operation, security patrols have now been tightened in all major tourist areas, such as Seminyak, Canggu, Ubud, Sanur, and Nusa Dua, which are favourite destinations for tourists.
In addition to patrols, Bali Police has also opened a 110 hotline that can be used by all tourists and operates 24 hours with multilingual services to facilitate reporting in case of security disturbances.
Bali Police has also strengthened surveillance of foreign nationals through a website and the Command Center for Foreigner Surveillance (Cakrawasi), which was officially launched on 13 March 2026. This technology-based system is used to monitor the presence and activities of foreign nationals in Bali in an integrated and real-time manner.
Daniel stated that the development of Cakrawasi was carried out in line with the high number of international tourist visits to Bali, which reached 7.05 million people in 2025, an increase of 11.9 percent compared to the previous year.
Through this system, the movements of foreign nationals can be monitored through reports from hotels, accommodations, and related stakeholders, so that potential suspicious activities or legal violations can be detected and addressed more quickly.
“With Cakrawasi, we can see all their movements through reports from hotels or accommodations. So when something seems a bit odd, we can detect it,” said Daniel.
The presence of the Cakrawasi Command Center also allows incoming data to be verified and followed up quickly as a preventive step in maintaining tourist area security.
Coordination with Immigration, the Tourism Office, embassies of friendly countries, hotel and villa associations, as well as tour operators is also being enhanced through regular safety briefings.
In fact, Bali Police is preparing for Phase 2 of Operation Sikat Agung, which will focus on protecting foreign tourists.
“We urge all communities and tourists to immediately report suspicious activities, whether carried out by foreigners or locals. Bali’s security is a shared responsibility,” added Daniel.
Bali Police emphasised that the majority of tourist visits to Bali so far have been safe and comfortable. The 23 percent downward trend in crime involving foreign nationals from January to April 2026 compared to the same period last year is said to be a strong indicator that the security situation on the Island of the Gods remains conducive.