BALINEWSID.COM, BADUNG – A joint team from the Criminal Investigation Unit of Denpasar Police and Kuta Police raided a guest house on Jalan By Pass Ngurah Rai, Gang Karang Sari, Kedonganan, Kuta, Badung, on Monday (April 27, 2026) afternoon. During the operation, authorities secured 27 people, most of them foreign nationals, who were allegedly victims of unlawful confinement and were suspected to be prepared as operators for an online scam network.
The raid was launched following a report from the Philippine Embassy in Jakarta regarding the alleged confinement of Philippine citizens who were reportedly being recruited to work in fraudulent online activities.
Denpasar Police Chief Senior Commissioner Leonardo D. Simatupang personally led the operation, accompanied by Head of Criminal Investigation Commissioner Agus Riwayanto, Head of Intelligence Commissioner I Nyoman Sumantara, and Kuta Police Chief Commissioner Laksmi Trisnadewi.
Upon entering the premises, officers found several foreign nationals along with one Indonesian citizen staying inside the guest house. Preliminary inspection revealed that several rooms on the second floor had been modified into workspaces equipped with electronic devices, including laptops and a Starlink internet network.
A total of 27 individuals were taken into custody, consisting of 26 foreign nationals from various countries and one Indonesian citizen. Among them were citizens of the Philippines and Kenya who were unable to present passports.
Police also confiscated dozens of mobile phones, laptops, iPads, internet equipment, and items resembling insignia of foreign law enforcement agencies.
Denpasar Police Chief Leonardo D. Simatupang stated that all foreign nationals secured in the raid are currently undergoing identification and intensive questioning by a joint team from Denpasar Police, Kuta Police, Bali Police Criminal Investigation Directorate, and Bali Police Cyber Directorate.
Investigators are also coordinating with Bali Immigration authorities to verify the legal status of the foreign nationals involved.
Denpasar Police said the case remains under investigation to uncover the wider network behind the operation while ensuring protection for the alleged victims.