Police: No Room for Scam Headquarters in Bali
Police have emphasised that there will be no space for illegal activities in Bali, including suspected online scam practices involving dozens of foreign nationals (WNA) in Kuta, Badung. From the initial handling, immigration violations have been confirmed, while general criminal suspicions are still under investigation.
The Head of Criminal Investigation at Denpasar Police Resort, Kompol Agus Riwayanto Diputra, stated that the legal process for the case is ongoing, with his side continuing to coordinate with prosecutors.
“Clearly, regarding the criminal aspect, we are still in the process. What is certain is the immigration violation,” he said at the Denpasar Police Resort headquarters on Wednesday (6/5/2026).
Agus explained that the suspected general criminal acts in the case are still being thoroughly investigated by detectives.
“If it’s the general criminal acts, we are still investigating and coordinating with the prosecutors,” he added.
Regarding the immigration violations, Agus revealed that the foreign nationals were using tourist visas. “The visas used are tourist visas,” he said.
He stressed that the handling of this case is also related to efforts to maintain public security and order (harkamtibmas) in Bali. The police do not want the Bali region to be exploited as a base for illegal activities.
“The main point is that the current handling is more focused on harkamtibmas. We will not allow a scam headquarters in Bali,” he asserted.
The case began with a raid by police officers at a guesthouse on Jalan By Pass Ngurah Rai, Gang Karang Sari, Kedonganan, Kuta, Badung, on Monday afternoon (27/4/2026).
During the raid, officers secured dozens of foreign nationals suspected of being kidnapping victims and intended to be used as online scam operators.
Some of the foreign nationals have been handed over to immigration authorities for further processing. Meanwhile, the police are still delving into the suspected kidnapping and the possibility of a larger criminal network behind the case.