DENPASAR, BALINEWS – Denpasar Police Chief Commissioner I Wayan Winaya has warned that legal violations committed by foreign nationals could undermine public safety and security while potentially affecting Bali's tourism industry, which is strongly rooted in local culture and traditions.
Winaya made the statement during a press conference held at the Denpasar Class I Immigration Office on Monday, November 2, 2026, following the detention of four foreign nationals by immigration authorities.
According to Winaya, a sense of security is one of the fundamental requirements for successful tourism management. Violations committed by foreign nationals who enter Indonesia as tourists could affect local residents' sense of safety and disrupt their daily activities.
He explained that the impact could extend beyond people working in the tourism industry to include government employees and residents working in other sectors.
"Public safety is a fundamental requirement for successful tourism management. When foreign nationals who are supposed to be visiting Denpasar as tourists commit violations, this can undermine the sense of security among local residents as they go about their daily activities," Winaya said.
He also warned that such violations could potentially trigger social tensions between foreign nationals and local communities.
Furthermore, activities that disregard local customs, social norms, and cultural values could create broader tensions within society.
Winaya emphasized that Bali's tourism industry is closely associated with its cultural identity. Therefore, foreign visitors are expected to respect local traditions, community values, and Indonesian laws throughout their stay.
He also praised Denpasar Immigration authorities for taking firm action in response to alleged violations involving four foreign nationals.
According to him, the enforcement measures demonstrate the authorities' commitment to maintaining public order and security in Denpasar.
"Today, we have witnessed the firm action taken by law enforcement authorities, particularly our colleagues at Immigration, in enforcing the law against violations involving four foreign nationals who entered Indonesia as tourists," he said.
Previously, the Denpasar Class I Immigration Office detained four foreign nationals during immigration enforcement operations conducted on October 28–29, 2026.
Three foreign women, identified by the initials JN (35) from Uganda, AS (29) from Russia, and BDC (32) from Nigeria, were detained after immigration officers discovered profiles on websites and digital platforms allegedly advertising sexual services online.
According to the results of the officers' monitoring, the advertised rates were USD 100 for the Ugandan national, IDR 13.7 million for the Russian national, and IDR 3.5 million for the Nigerian national.
The operation took place at a villa on Jalan Padang Tegal Sari, West Denpasar District, on Wednesday, October 28, 2026.
An examination of immigration documents revealed that BDC had overstayed her permitted period of stay by 54 days.
Officers also seized several items of evidence, including condoms, personal lubricant, several mobile phones, and the passports belonging to the three foreign nationals.
In a separate operation on Thursday, October 29, 2026, immigration officers detained a Ghanaian man identified as CYA (31).
The detention followed reports from local residents concerning alleged disturbances in the Jalan Gunung Lebah area of Denpasar.
An examination of his immigration documents revealed that CYA had overstayed his permitted period of stay by 115 days. He was also alleged to have been asking local residents for money after running out of funds.
The press conference was attended by Head of the Bali Regional Office of the Directorate General of Immigration Ramdhani, Head of the Denpasar Immigration Office R. Haryo Sakti, Denpasar Police Chief Commissioner I Wayan Winaya, and Head of the Denpasar Intelligence and Immigration Enforcement Section Ida Bagus Made Suandita.
Winaya reiterated the importance of strengthening supervision and law enforcement involving foreign nationals to maintain public safety and protect Bali's tourism industry from activities that violate Indonesian law or disregard local cultural values.
He stressed that maintaining security and respecting Bali's cultural identity are essential to ensuring a safe and welcoming environment for both residents and international visitors.
