Indonesian immigration officials recently deported a Ugandan national in Bali following allegations of involvement in online prostitution, marking the latest in a string of deportations as authorities intensify their efforts to address illegal activities by foreign nationals on the island.
This deportation, carried out on October 31, involved a 42-year-old Ugandan woman who had initially arrived in Indonesia in 2019 under an asylum-seeker status set to expire this month.
Authorities allege the woman was engaged in coordinating online sex work, an activity that immigration officials say has uneased the community.
Allegations of Involvement in Organized Networks
The individual, who lived in Legian, Kuta, was reportedly part of a network of foreign nationals involved in similar activities. According to investigators, she frequently shared surveillance-related videos with others in the network and sent explicit images to an Australian national, described as her partner, who had been financially supporting her stay in Bali.
This recent deportation follows the October 25 expulsion of another Ugandan woman, 23, suspected of acting as a “marketer” for African sex workers in Bali. According to Bali immigration authorities, the younger woman had entered Indonesia in 2015 on a visa-free visit and claimed to be involved in the clothing trade. A September investigation into her residence, however, revealed possible links to prostitution services, and immigration officials found evidence of her assisting detained foreign nationals with visa extensions.
A Broader Immigration Crackdown in Bali
“These individuals may try to exploit their immigration status, but our enforcement efforts are increasingly thorough,” said Gede Dudy Duwita, head of the Denpasar Immigration Detention Center, who noted that the recent deportations reflect a broader immigration crackdown in Bali. “Our focus is on preventing any activities that compromise public safety or order.”
The two Ugandan deportations are part of a wider campaign by Indonesian immigration authorities to watchdog violations among foreign nationals in Bali, where both overstays and instances of illegal activities have surged in recent years.
In October, a broader sweep targeting immigration violators in the Kuta area led to the detention of ten foreign nationals suspected of involvement in immigration violations or illicit activities. Officials believe that certain networks exploit visa-free entry policies and asylum statuses to evade scrutiny, using Bali’s status as a popular tourist destination as a means to blend into expatriate communities.
Intensified Surveillance to Address Public Concerns
Earlier this year, immigration officials conducted a similar crackdown, apprehending 24 foreign nationals from Nigeria, Ghana, and Tanzania for overstaying, with some reportedly discarding their passports to evade detection. Among those detained was a Nigerian national who had arrived in 2019 and claimed to have lost his passport, only to face deportation after serving a brief jail term due to unpaid immigration fines.
“We will continue to intensify operations targeting those who violate regulations,” stated Pramella Yunidar Pasaribu, head of the Bali Regional Office of the Ministry of Law and Human Rights. “Any breach that disrupts public security and order will be addressed firmly in line with the law.”
Balancing Bali’s Appeal with Public Order
The Indonesian government asserts that these enforcements attempt to address locals’ concerns over unchecked immigration’s impact on Bali’s social environment. This was evident in the case of an American man detained in Ubud’s Monkey Forest area after causing a public disturbance. Found intoxicated and without a valid passport, he was ultimately deported for immigration violations—an example, officials say, of their commitment to responsibly managing foreign nationals.
As Bali continues to attract both tourists and long-term expatriates, the island faces the challenge of maintaining its appeal as a welcoming destination while addressing the realities of immigration control.
The recent deportations, especially involving cases tied to illicit networks, reflect a shift toward more active enforcement, as officials balance Bali’s global image with the demands of security and public order.
