Immigration says over a dozen Uzbek nationals violated stay permits

The Regional Office of the Directorate General of Immigration for East Nusa Tenggara (NTT) has stated that 14 of the 16 foreign nationals from Uzbekistan stranded in Alor Regency are suspected of violating stay permit regulations by overstaying. Head of the NTT Regional Office of the Directorate General of Immigration, Saroha Manulang, said preliminary examination results indicate the 14 foreigners breached immigration rules. “There are 14 people known to have violated immigration rules due to overstaying their permits,” Saroha said in Kupang on Friday. The findings were obtained from the examination of the 16 Uzbek nationals who were found by fishermen on the coast of Air Panas Village Beach, Pantar District, Alor Regency, on 3 July 2026. The group of foreigners, stranded after the boat they were travelling on suffered engine failure, have the initials AI, ND, TO, YA, BT, NIO, ST, SS, NN, IS, IM, KI, GS, MFK, KS, and RZ. Based on the preliminary examination results, the foreigners had chartered a boat belonging to a resident in Kendari for a fee of approximately 8,000 US dollars. However, the boat experienced engine failure while in the waters off Pantar, Alor Regency, causing them to become stranded. Regarding the possibility of other violations, Saroha said his office is still conducting further examinations. “But according to their statements, they did not know each other even though they were on the same boat during the voyage from Kendari,” he said. Police are also still questioning the captain who transported the foreigners from Kendari.