Three Major Cases Uncovered in Bali: Foreigner Kidnapping, Online Gambling, and Online Prostitution
Several major criminal cases have been uncovered in Bali over the past week. These range from the alleged kidnapping of dozens of foreigners intended to be used as online scam operators, a cross-border online gambling network, to online prostitution practices and the sale of pornographic content.
The revelations began with a report from the Philippine Embassy in Jakarta, leading to a raid on a guesthouse in Kuta, Badung. Police then expanded the investigation and discovered other illegal activities involving international networks.
In addition, the Bali Provincial Police’s Cyber Crime Directorate has dismantled an online gambling operator network operating from Bali, targeting hundreds of Indonesian citizens daily. Online prostitution practices via social media were also uncovered during cyber patrols.
Raid on Guesthouse, 27 People Detained
The case of the alleged kidnapping of dozens of foreigners in a guesthouse in Kuta, Badung, Bali, was exposed following a report from the Philippine Embassy in Jakarta. Police raided the location on Jalan Bypass Ngurah Rai, Gang Karang Sari, Kedonganan, on Monday afternoon (27/4/2026).
From the raid, police detained 27 people, consisting of 26 foreigners and one Indonesian citizen. They are suspected of being intended to serve as online scam operators.
“This action is a follow-up to a report from the Philippine Embassy in Jakarta regarding the alleged kidnapping of Philippine citizens who were to be employed as scam operators,” said the Public Relations Officer of Denpasar Police Resort, Iptu I Gede Adi Saputra Jaya, on Tuesday (28/4/2026).
At the location, officers found several rooms converted into workspaces equipped with laptops and a Starlink internet network. Police also seized dozens of mobile phones, laptops, and other internet devices.
Several foreigners from the Philippines and Kenya were found without passport documents. Currently, all detained individuals are undergoing intensive examinations.
Police are coordinating with Bali Immigration and continue to investigate the scam network behind the case.
This case shocked local residents because the guesthouse’s activities appeared normal from the outside.
Observations by detikBali at the location on Tuesday (28/4/2026) showed the building had been cordoned off by police. The front gate was closed, with a sign reading “The Dorm is Full Kosan Penuh”.
One neighbour claimed not to have seen any suspicious activity. He only saw people coming and going occasionally.
“There were people coming and going just like that. Indonesian people coming and going like washing sheets,” he said.
Another neighbour said the activities inside the guesthouse were tightly concealed, so they were unknown to the surrounding community.
“Last night I was shocked to see so many people and police arriving. The neighbours didn’t know either because the door was very tightly closed,” she revealed.
Online Gambling Operators Arrested
The Bali Provincial Police’s Cyber Crime Directorate arrested four online gambling (judol) operators with initials IJT alias Gisel (23), RFT alias Selena (22), MGB alias Aleta (22), and WAB alias Guang Yun (31).
The suspects were arrested at a house in the Benoa area, South Kuta. They were known to operate an online gambling website and target hundreds of Indonesian citizens daily.
“In a day, the suspects could receive around 300 to 400 Indonesian phone numbers from the leader to then contact them one by one,” revealed the Director of Cyber Crime at Bali Provincial Police, Kombes Aszhari Kurniawan.
The modus operandi involved offering initial bonuses to victims to try the games, then asking them to top up.
Police stated that this network is cross-border and is still being developed to hunt down the main perpetrators.
Three Women Selling Pornographic Content via Social Media
The Bali Provincial Police’s Cyber Crime Directorate also arrested three women with initials FF (28), TW (22), and TRK (23) related to online prostitution practices and the sale of pornographic content via social media.
“From cyber patrol results, we found several accounts posting and offering pornographic content,” said Aszhari.
This case was uncovered from cyber patrols since February 2026. Police then detained the perpetrators at various locations in Denpasar and Gianyar.
Evidence seized includes mobile phones, screenshots of content, and transaction proofs. The perpetrators are charged under Article 407 paragraph (1) of the Criminal Code.