Indonesian Immigration Nets 170 Foreigners Violating Stay Permits, Most from Nigeria

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The General Directorate of Immigration detained 170 foreign nationals (WNA) from 27 countries during the three-day Wira Waspada operation held from May 14 to 16, 2025 in Jakarta, Depok, Tangerang, and Bekasi.

The majority of the detained WNA came from Nigeria (61 individuals), Cameroon (27 individuals), Pakistan (14 individuals), Sierra Leone (12 individuals), Ivory Coast (8 individuals), and Gambia (8 individuals). They were apprehended from various apartments and shopping centers.

The Acting Director General of Immigration, Yuldi Yusman, stated that the operation was based on public reports and field monitoring by officers. "We divided teams to visit the locations of WNA residing in several apartments in the Jadetabek area, which were the operation's targets," Yuldi said in a written statement on Friday, May 16, 2025.

Immigration officers also visited several cafes in Central Jakarta and shopping centers in West Jakarta.

During the operation, the Directorate of Immigration Supervision and Enforcement arrested 170 WNA. The breakdown includes 25 individuals who could not produce travel documents, 25 individuals suspected of providing false information, 24 individuals with fictitious sponsors or guarantors, and 10 individuals who have overstayed.

Surveillance of these WNA began on Wednesday, May 14, 2025, at 09:00 AM Western Indonesia Time. They are suspected of violating Article 78 and Article 123 of Law Number 6 of 2011 concerning Immigration.

Article 78 regulates foreign nationals holding residence permits that exceed the validity period, while Article 123 stipulates a maximum criminal penalty of five years imprisonment and a fine of up to Rp500 million for individuals who provide false data or information to obtain a visa or residence permit.

Deportation and Travel Ban Sanctions

These WNA are also facing administrative sanctions in the form of deportation and inclusion on the travel ban list.

The Wira Waspada operation is the third one conducted in 2025, following previous operations in Bali, North Maluku, and the Morowali and Tobelo industrial areas. In this operation, ten immigration offices in Jakarta, Tangerang, Bekasi, and Depok were involved.

This operation is a response to several cases of WNA violating regulations by causing disturbances in public places. Yuldi emphasized that the General Directorate of Immigration will continue to strengthen surveillance of the presence and activities of WNA in Indonesia. "Immigration will take strict action against foreign nationals who do not comply with immigration regulations. We also urge lodging managers and owners to report the presence of WNA," said Yuldi.

Separately, Minister of Immigration and Penitentiaries Agus Andrianto affirmed that similar operations will continue to be carried out routinely and on a national scale.

"The Wira Waspada operation is part of our simultaneous efforts to enforce immigration law to prevent public order disturbances and reduce the potential for criminal acts by foreigners violating the rules," Agus said.

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