DENPASAR, Bali – Police in Bali have raided a suspected online scam operation in Kuta, detaining 27 people after reports that foreign nationals were allegedly being prepared or forced to work as scam operators.
Denpasar Police Chief Kombes Pol. Leonardo David Simatupang said the operation, carried out on Monday (April 27, 2026), targeted a property along Jalan By Pass Ngurah Rai, Kedonganan, Badung, following a formal complaint from the Philippine Embassy in Jakarta.
The embassy report indicated that several Filipino nationals had sought help over alleged confinement and coercion linked to online fraud activities.
A total of 27 individuals were secured, comprising 26 foreign nationals and one Indonesian. Several of those detained—particularly from the Philippines and Kenya—were found without valid passports, raising further concerns over possible human trafficking elements.
Police said the suspects were staying inside a single guest house complex that had been converted into an operational base. Initial findings showed multiple rooms on the second floor had been modified into workspaces equipped with laptops and supported by satellite-based internet using Starlink.
Authorities also seized dozens of mobile phones, laptops, iPads, internet devices, and fake law enforcement attributes resembling foreign agencies. Investigators suspect the items were used to facilitate online fraud schemes, including impersonation tactics.
The raid was led directly by Simatupang, accompanied by senior officers from Polresta Denpasar and Polsek Kuta. The case is now being jointly handled with the Bali Police’s Criminal Investigation and Cybercrime units.
“All foreign nationals secured are currently undergoing intensive questioning,” Simatupang said.
Police have also coordinated with immigration authorities to verify the legal status of the detainees, while investigators continue to explore potential links to a wider transnational crime network.
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