Ngurah Rai Immigration in Bali Arrests 24 African Nationals: Including from Nigeria, Tanzania & Ghana

(Photo: ANTARA/HO-Kemenkumham Bali/am)

Ngurah Rai Immigration Office in Bali has arrested 24 foreign nationals from African countries, namely Nigeria, Tanzania, and Ghana, for alleged fraud and visa violations.

"We will process them in accordance with the prevailing regulations and provisions," said Suhendra, Head of the Ngurah Rai Immigration Office, in Denpasar, Bali, on Friday (31/05/2024) as reported by Antara News.

The immigration office received a WhatsApp message from the public reporting foreign nationals suspected of overstaying their visas and committing fraud.

Of the 24 individuals arrested, 22 are from Nigeria, all male and predominantly young, aged between 23 and 35. The remaining two are from Tanzania and Ghana, respectively. 

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The arrest began with a public report via the official WhatsApp application of Ngurah Rai Immigration at the number +62 81236956667.

The report mentioned three Nigerian nationals, one of whom, identified by the initials ACP, a 23-year-old male, was suspected of fraud and overstaying.

The three Nigerian nationals were apprehended by the Intelligence and Immigration Enforcement (Inteldakim) officers of Ngurah Rai on Tuesday (28/05/2024) in the tourist area of Legian, Badung Regency. Upon investigation, it was found that they had overstayed by more than 60 days.

Further interrogation of the three led to the arrest of 21 more individuals on Wednesday (29/05/2024) including 19 Nigerians and one each from Ghana and Tanzania, in West Denpasar. Nine of these individuals could not produce travel documents such as passports.

The authorities are also investigating the involvement of these African nationals in fraud cases.

Currently, three of the detained individuals are being held at the Ngurah Rai Immigration Office, while the remaining 21 are being held at the Immigration Detention Center in Denpasar.

"We will process them according to the applicable laws and regulations," reiterated Suhendra.

According to the Bali Regional Office of the Ministry of Law and Human Rights, from January 1 to May 14, 2024, a total of 142 foreign nationals have been deported, with the highest number, 84, through Ngurah Rai Immigration.

In 2023, a total of 340 foreign nationals were deported from Bali, an increase from 188 deportations in 2022.