Surge in Foreign National Crime in Bali, Law Deemed 'Cheap'
A surge in criminality involving foreign nationals (WNA) in Bali over recent years has triggered serious scrutiny of law enforcement and weak oversight. Crime patterns are said to be increasingly complex, ranging from conflicts between foreign nationals to international crime networks.
Criminologist from Udayana University, Gde Made Suardana, assesses that this issue goes beyond mere case numbers. Bali is described as having the characteristics of an open region with high mobility that is criminologically vulnerable to crime.
“Bali is very open. People come and go easily. If oversight is not strict, crime will certainly follow,” he stated on Wednesday (1/4/2026).
He also highlighted the emergence of a perception that law enforcement in Bali has yet to provide a deterrent effect.
“There is an impression that the law is ‘cheap’. If this perception spreads, Bali could be seen as a safe place for criminals,” he emphasised.
According to him, this perception could arise from inconsistent case handling or punishments deemed disproportionate to the level of crime.
In addition to law enforcement, Suardana views oversight of foreign national activities as still weak, especially once they are within Indonesian territory.
“Our oversight is too focused on entry points. What is most important is oversight once they are already inside the territory,” he said.
From a criminological perspective, this situation creates opportunity crime, namely a scenario where crime opportunities arise due to the convergence of perpetrators, targets, and weak oversight.
If not promptly addressed, the trend in foreign national criminality is feared not only to impact local security but also to erode Bali’s image in the eyes of the world.
Data from the Bali Regional Police shows that the number of foreign national crimes has experienced a significant surge in recent times. Throughout 2025, hundreds of foreign nationals were recorded as involved in criminal acts, both as perpetrators and victims. The number of foreign nationals who became crime victims even increased by up to 47 percent compared to the previous year.
Bali Police Chief Inspector General Daniel Adityajaya revealed that in several cases, the perpetrators and victims come from the same circles.
“Sometimes, both the victim and perpetrator are from them (fellow foreign nationals),” he said.
This phenomenon indicates that Bali is not only a location for crimes against tourists but also a space for conflicts among foreign residents.
Series of Cases 2024-2026
Over the period from 2024 to 2026, several prominent cases illustrate the escalation. In 2024, an international cyber crime network involving hundreds of foreign nationals was uncovered. In 2025, a shooting case involving fellow Australian foreign nationals occurred in Badung.
Entering 2026, crime patterns are said to be increasingly brutal. A murder case of a Dutch foreign national in the Kerobokan area with a sharp weapon is suspected to have been premeditated. In addition, kidnapping cases accompanied by extortion based on crypto assets and the distribution of narcotics involving international networks have emerged.
The police assess that the high mobility and activities of foreign nationals in Bali are one of the main factors.
“We monitor foreign national activities using an application to know their whereabouts and activities,” Daniel said.
He emphasised that oversight of foreign nationals requires cross-agency synergy, from police, immigration, local government, to the community.
“Bali’s security is a shared responsibility. We will take firm action against every legal violation,” he stressed.
From the immigration side, oversight is beginning to be tightened. Throughout 2025, hundreds of foreign nationals were deported due to violations of residence permits up to involvement in illegal activities. Oversight operations also uncovered misuse of residence permits and indications of involvement in organised crime networks.
Nevertheless, these efforts are deemed insufficient.