BALINEWSID.COM, BADUNG – Officers at the Immigration Checkpoint (TPI) of the Kantor Imigrasi Kelas I Khusus TPI Ngurah Rai successfully foiled an alleged attempt by a family to illegally enter Indonesia using forged passports at I Gusti Ngurah Rai International Airport.

Three Iraqi nationals, who are members of the same family, were caught attempting to enter Indonesian territory using fake Belgian passports. The suspected violation was uncovered during routine document inspections at the international arrivals counter.

After further questioning and initial examination by TPI officers, the three foreign nationals were immediately handed over to the Intelligence and Immigration Enforcement Division (Inteldakim) of the Ngurah Rai Immigration Office for further investigation and handling.

Based on checks through the central immigration data system and international security networks, the three individuals were not listed on any immigration blacklist nor included in Interpol’s hit records.

Following the completion of administrative and immigration enforcement procedures, the three Iraqi nationals were officially deported from Indonesia on March 2, 2026, through I Gusti Ngurah Rai International Airport. They departed on AirAsia flight AK375 bound for Kuala Lumpur at 9:05 p.m. local time (WITA).

The case was revealed due to the vigilance of immigration officers in profiling arriving passengers. Initial suspicions at the inspection counter were immediately followed up with a decision to conduct further examination at the Immigration Forensic Laboratory. The results confirmed that the Belgian passports carried by the Iraqi nationals were counterfeit.

Head of the Ngurah Rai Immigration Office, Bugie Kurniawan, expressed appreciation for his team’s performance in uncovering the case. He also warned of potential global migration dynamics that need to be anticipated.

“This could potentially occur in the future as part of a large-scale exodus of citizens from conflict areas in the Middle East seeking to enter countries considered safe by various means,” he emphasized.

Considering that the violators were a family consisting of a woman and a toddler, the Ngurah Rai Immigration Office ensured that the handling process was conducted humanely. All examinations were carried out in accordance with human rights principles, including the fulfillment of basic needs and ensuring the comfort of the child and her mother throughout the process.

Ngurah Rai Immigration reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening vigilance, optimizing the use of technology, and enhancing officers’ competencies to prevent potential threats and immigration law violations within Indonesian territory. (FF)