Immigration says over a dozen Uzbek nationals violated stay permits

Kupang (ANTARA) - The East Nusa Tenggara (NTT) Regional Office of the Directorate General of Immigration has stated that 14 of the 16 foreign nationals from Uzbekistan stranded in Alor Regency are suspected of violating stay permit regulations after exceeding their permitted duration (overstay).

Head of the NTT Regional Office of the Directorate General of Immigration, Saroha Manulang, said preliminary examination results showed that the 14 foreign nationals had breached immigration provisions.

“There are 14 people found to have violated immigration rules due to overstaying their permits,” Saroha said in Kupang on Friday.

The findings came from examinations of the 16 Uzbek nationals discovered by fishermen on the coast of Kampung Air Panas Beach, Pantar District, Alor Regency, on 3 July 2026.

The Uzbek nationals, stranded after the boat they were travelling on suffered engine failure, carry the initials AI, ND, TO, YA, BT, NIO, ST, SS, NN, IS, IM, KI, GS, MFK, KS and RZ.

Based on preliminary examination results, the foreign nationals had chartered a boat owned by a resident of Kendari for a fee of around US$8,000.

However, the vessel suffered engine trouble while in waters around Pantar, Alor Regency, leaving the group stranded.

Regarding the possibility of other violations, Saroha said his office was still carrying out further examinations.

“But according to their own statements, they did not know one another despite being on the same boat during the voyage from Kendari,” he said.

Police are also still questioning the skipper who transported the foreign nationals from Kendari.